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Extract from the Details of entry: Domesday Book entry Place: Elmeslac for ‘Elmeslac’, 1086. The Hundred: Maneshou Domesday Book was a survey of all landowner’s Area: North Riding property in England and County: Yorkshire parts of Wales, created by order of William the Total population: 7 households (quite small). Conqueror in 1086. Total tax assessed: 11.5 geld units (very large). At the time of the Norman Head of manor: Helmsley I. Conquest, Helmsley was a small town, surrounded by Taxable units: Taxable value 8 geld units. forests and crop fields. It is Value: Value to lord in 1066 £1.6. Value to lord recorded in the Domesday in 1086 £0.5. Book as ‘Elmeslac’. The area’s name changed Households: 6 villagers. 1 priest. over the later centuries Ploughland: 4 ploughlands (ploughs possible). 2 men's from ‘Haumesley’, plough teams. ‘Haumelac’, ‘Hamelak’ and Other resources: Woodland 6 * 1.5 leagues. 1 church. ‘Helmeslegh’ and, finally, Helmsley. Lord in 1066: Uhtred. Lord in 1086: Count Robert of Mortain. Tenant-in-chief in 1086: Count Robert of Mortain.

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Fursan ‘raised the Extract from Chartulary of Rievaulx, 12th century. castles of Helmislay and A chartulary is a medieval manuscript that records of Wark’ information, especially about the foundation of a religious establishment (such as a monastery) or an estate.

Extract from Relatio de Standardo (An An old man and full of days, quick- Account of the [Battle of the] Standard), witted, prudent in council, moderate 1153/1154. York Minster Archives XVI.I.8; in peace, circumspect in war, a this text cited in J. Fletcher, The Cistercians true friend and a loyal subject. His in Yorkshire. London, 1919. stature was passing tall, his limbs A description of Walter Espec, by Cistercian all of a size as not to exceed their monk Aelred of Rievaulx. In 1132, Rievaulx just proportions, and yet to be well Abbey was established on lands donated by matched with his great height. His Walter Espec. Aelred presided as abbot of hair was still black, his beard long and Rievaulx from 1147 until his death in 1167. flowing, his forehead wide and noble, his eyes large and bright, his face An Account of the [Battle of the] Standard broad but well featured, his voice like describes the battle in 1138 between the the sound of a trumpet, setting off his King of Scotland and a Norman army natural eloquence of speech with a fighting in support of King Stephen of certain majesty of sound. England. It praises the English and Normans and is critical of the Scots and Galwegians. The Norman forces are described as fighting under the protection of the saints.

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Extract from The Ballads “And who’s yon chiefe of giante heighte, and Songs of Yorkshire: And of bulke so huge to see?” Transcribed from Private Manuscripts, Rare “Walter Espec is that chiefe’s name, Broadsides, and Scarce And a potente chiefe is hee. Publications by C. J. Davison Ingledew, Bell and Daldy, 2015. “Hys stature’s large as the mountaine oake, A Yorkshire ballad about And eke as strong hys mighte: The Battle of the Standard, first printed in 1784. There’s ne’ere a chiefe in alle the northe Can dare with hym to fighte.”

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