Harewood, Yorkshire, England. Geographical and Historical information from 1834.

HAREWOOD:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1834.

"HAREWOOD, a small market town and township in the parish of its name, which is partly in the upper and lower division of Claro wapentake, and a part in the upper division of Skyrack wapentake, West Riding, is two hundred miles north west of London, and eight north from Leeds ; most pleasantly situated within half a mile of the river Wharf. But the great object of attraction here is Harewood house, the residence of the Earl of Harewood, which, for splendour and extent, may vie with the first mansions in the kingdom ; it is, indeed, a modern palace, surrounded by a wide extent of pleasure grounds and plantations, with a park of about 1800 acres of rich pasture land. The vicinage, too, of this seat, is peculiarly in unison with its beauties, abounding with views of romantic scenery, composed of hill and dale, thick woods, and scattered groves, which strike the eye with a most pleasing and ever varying effect ; and to add to the picturesque keeping of the picture, on the declivity of a hill, rising from the vale of Wharf, appears an ancient and dilapidated castle, erected about the time of William the Conqueror.

The Earl of Harewood is lord of the manor, and holds manorial courts in May and October, which are also courts for the recovery of small debts.

The church, dedicated to All Saints, is of great antiquity, and contains many interesting and stately monuments to the Harewood and other distinguished families.

The benefice is a vicarage, in the alternate gift of the Harewood family and the heirs of the late lady E. Hastings ; the Rev. Richard Hale is the present vicar. Here is also a chapel belonging to the methodists, and a charity school, supported by the Earl.

The market day is Monday, and the fairs are, the last Monday in April, and the second Monday in October. The whole parish, by the census taken in 1821, contained 2,348 inhabitants, and in 1831, 2,463 ; of which last number 894 were returned for the township."

[Transcribed by Steve Garton ©2000 from
Pigot's directory (Yorkshire section) 1834]