HISTORY TOPOGRAPHY, AND DIRECTORY OF NORTH YORKSHIRE PART II., CONTAINING THE THIRSK AND MALTON, AND WHITBY DIVISIONS, AND PART OF THE WAPENTAKE OF CLARO. ===================================== ILLUSTRATED BY MAPS ===================================== PRICE: CLOTH, 10S 6D.; HALF-CALF, 12S 6D --------------------------------------------------------- PRESTON: T.BULMER & Co., AHTON-ON-RIBBLE. T. SNAPE & CO., PRINTERS, CHURCH STREET Bulmers 1891 Directory Copyright ©2020 Malton & Norton Heritage Centre Page 1 ADDRESS --*-- In submitting to their subscribers this edition of the History, Topography, and Directory of North Yorkshire, the Publishers desire to return their sincere thanks for the very liberal support and encouragement they have received during its preparation. The compilation of the works has occupied a longer time than the publishers anticipated, but as neither expense nor labour has been spared in procuring the latest and most authentic information, and a revise of the district taken at the latest possible time before going to press, they confidently believe that the accuracy of the work has not been impaired by the delay. Absolute accuracy, however, is an utter impossibility in works of this kind; for while the sheets are passing through the printers’ hands, many, whose names are here recorded, will have been removed by death, and some will probably have changed their present for another field of labour. A few typographical errors may possibly escape detection during the revision, but these, the Publishers feel assured, will be so trivial and apparent as in no way to detract from the value of the work. In its arrangement the new Parliamentary Divisions have been adopted, instead of the old and nearly obsolete Wapentakes; and the parishes in each have been arranged in alphabetical sequence. A copious index will still further facilitate reference. Of the plan and scope of the work little need be said. The North Riding is first viewed as a whole, and a resume of its history given This is followed by sketches of its physiography; its agricultural, manufacturing, and mining industries; and of its ecclesiastical and judicial polity. Its individual parts are next passed in review, and whatever there may be of interest attaching to them is fully related. In conclusion the Publishers desire to thank their numerous subscribers, and also all those clergymen and gentlemen who have so kindly aided them in the compilation of the work, either by the revision of the proof sheets, or by the contribution of historical or other information. T. BULMER & Co. Ashton-on-Ribble, April, 1891 Bulmers 1891 Directory Copyright ©2020 Malton & Norton Heritage Centre Page 2 MALTON PARISH Wapentake of Ryedale – Rural Deanery of Malton – Archdeaconry of Cleveland – Diocese of York Malton is a small market town on the north bank of the Derwent, consisting of Old and New Malton, and, until Lady Day, 1889, also included the suburb of Norton on the opposite side of the river, and in the East Riding. It is the head of a poor law union, petty sessional division, county court district, and forms a division for the election of a member of the North Riding County Council. It is situated on the York and Scarborough branch of the North Eastern railway, 21 ¾ miles from the former place and 21 from the latter. Here also converge the branch lines form Thirsk and Driffield, the former 30 miles in length and the latter 20 miles. It is distant from Pickering, 9 miles S.; from Berverley, 31 ¼ miles N.N.W.; from Darlington, 52 miles S.E.; from Harrogate, 40 ¼ miles N.E.; from Huddersfield, 70 ¼ miles N.E. by N.; from Hull, 39 ¼ miles N.N.W.; from Leeds, 53 ¾ miles N.E.; from Sheffield, 74 ½ miles N.N.E.; from Whitby, 34 ¾ miles S.; and from London 213 miles N.W. The estimated extent of Malton is 3,633 ½ acres (exclusive of water), of which about 110 acres are in New Malton, and the remainder forms the parish of Old Malton. The rateable value of the former is £7,495, and the population in 1881 was 3,453; and of the latter £10,839, and population 1,819. Early Fitzwilliam is lord of the manor, and principal landowner of both parishes, in addition to whom there are in New Malton twenty-four small freeholders. If the importance of a place were measured by its antiquity, Malton would certainly hold a very exhalted position. There are good grounds for believing that whilst primeval forests still covered a large portion of the district, there was here a very considerable Brigantian settlement, and many traces of these early inhabitants are still to be seen in the neighbourhood. Nor can it be doubted that the Romans had a station or camp here, though there is some uncertainty as to its name. Drake supposed it to be Camulodunum, and Allen, in his “History of Yorkshire,” adopts the same opinion, and says that the Romans changed the termination of its ancient British name into Camulodunum. “This name,” he adds, “by abbreviation, became the Saxon Meldun, pronounced Maiden; and Maiden Greve Balk is at this day one of the boundaries of Malton.” It is now however, generally admitted that Camulodunum was the capital of the Trinobantes, whose territory is represented by the modern county of Essex, and is identified with Colchester. Mr. Wright, in his “Wanderings of an Antiquary,” places Delgovicia at Old Malton, and supports his views with very plausible arguments, but Dr. Young, the author of the “History of Whitby,” and several modern antiquaries think there are better grounds for supposing Malton to be identical with the ancient Derventio, an honour usually assigned to Stamford Bridge. This station was on the Derwent, whence it derived its name, and according to the Antonine Itinerary, was seven Roman miles from York, which accords with the position of Stamford Bridge, whereas Malton is nearly three times that distance. But the roman remains found at the former place show that it was an insignificant station compared with that at Malton; and as further evidence in favour of the latter place, no fewer that six Roman roads, it is said, may be traced by military and other remains leading to this station. Roman coins, urns, dishes, fibulae, ornaments, bronze swords, and inscribed stones have been found, but none bearing an inscription that reveals the name of the station. One of these found at Norton, and an engraving in Wright’s “Celt, Roman and Saxon” seems to have been the sign of a goldsmith named Servulus. It is inscribed FELICITER SIT GENIO LOCI SERAVOLE VTERE FELIX TABERN AM AVREFI CINAM; which may be thus freely rendered – “Prosperity to the genius of this place! O Servulus, enjoy thy goldsmith’s shop in happiness.” The camp, the outlines of which are still easily traceable, is in a field on the south side of the Lodge, which stands on part of the vallum. It is quadrangular in form, measuring 1,000 feet by 660. A road led from the camp to the ford over the Derwent, and there was a small camp for its protection on that site. Malton is said to have been a place of some note in early Saxon times, and one of the residences of the kings of Northumbria; and it was here, according to some writers, that Eomer, the assassin, attempted the life of Bulmers 1891 Directory Copyright ©2020 Malton & Norton Heritage Centre Page 3 Eadwine, who was saved by his faithful Lilla. But there is some doubt as to the locality of the occurrence; all that is known with certainty is that it took place in the royal villa on the banks of the Derwent (see page 26). In the time of Edward the Confessor, Thirkil and Siward were lords of Malton; and at the time of the Conquest the manor was held by Gilbert Tyson, a noble Saxon and owner of Alnwick Castle, who fell in the Battle of Hastings fighting for King Harold. The Conqueror disposed of the lordships of Alnwick and Malton with the granddaughter and heiress of Gilbert, in marriage to one of his own followers, Ivo de Vesci, whose daughter and heiress, Beatrice, was in like manner given by Henry I., with both lordships, to his favourite Eustace Fitz John. The residence of the Tysons was at Alnwick Castle, but they had probably a seat here also. The de Vescis fortified the town and erected a castle on the site of the Roman camp. In the contest between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, Eustace Fitz-John espoused the cause of the latter, and delivered his castles of Alnwick and Malton to David, king of Scotland, the empress’s uncle. The Scots placed a strong garrison in Malton Castle, and then laid waste the surrounding country, sacking the towns and villages. Thurstan, Archbishop of York, summoned the northern nobles with their retainers to aid him in expelling the invaders. In 1135 they invested and burnt the town, and then besieged and captured the castle. Eustace retreated into Scotland; but being afterwards restored to favour he rebuilt the town on the present site, and called it New Malton. It was surrounded by a wall, except where the river afforded protection, and was entered by four gates, the names of which are retained by the streets that formerly led to them; Yorkers Gate, Old Malton Gate, Green Gate, and Wheel Gate. William, the son and successor of Eustace Fitx John, assumed the maternal name of de Vesci. Subsequently the barony of Alnwick was alienated; and the lordship of Malton came by heritance to the Atons, one of whom had married Margerie, daughter and heiress of Warine, second son of William de Vesci.