PREFACE HISTORY Some no long- time since, I read in a newspaper or OF THE magazine (the name of which I have now quite forgotten) a suggestion, which I then thought a very happy one, for ANCIENT AND HISTORIC the consideration of the clergy who had charge of old and interesting Parish Churches. It was briefly that they Church of S. Andrew should, so far as opportunity afforded, collate from the Kildwick- in - Craven various sources of information, and write for the benefit of future generations, a short and concise history of their Parish and its Church. BY In this they would, of course, be but humble imitators of the REV. E. W. BRERETON, M.A. monks of the middle ages, to whom, notwithstanding VICAR, 1901-8 accusations of indolence and sloth by their Protestant enemies amid the violent upheaval of religious forces at the With Illustrations Reformation, we must yet acknowledge ourselves deeply indebted for their labours in recording the facts of their times. CROSSHILLS: I was then in charge of a Parish in the City of Bradford, the PUBLISHED BY GEORGE BOTTOMLEY, 1909 Church of which had just kept its jubilee, and which therefore had practically no history to record. I made, however, a mental note of the suggestion, and thought to myself that if 1 ever the privilege was afforded me of being the Rector or Vicar EDWARD WILLIAM BRERETON, M.A., VICAR. of an old Parish Church, I would do my best to carry it out. The Vicarage, Kildwick-in- Craven, The ancient and historic Church of S. Andrew, Kildwick-in-Craven January, 1909. has been ably described in years past, notably by the learned Dr. Whitaker, in his "History of Craven," yet much has happened since his day to warrant a further attempt, even if it were not that the price of the book excludes it from becoming the property of any except the few who can afford themselves the luxury of a copy. At the same time, I have not hesitated to avail myself of its aid to the uttermost, correcting certain details in regard to the interior of the Church, rendered necessary by the recent restoration. I have also made considerable use of pamphlets and articles by former Vicars, viz., Rev. J. T C. Fawcett, M.A., 1843-68, and Rev. H. Salway, 1868-75. My removal from the Vicarage in January, 1909, has compelled me to bring my labours to a sudden close; otherwise I had hoped to include a record of the inscriptions on the tombstones in the Churchyard, which ought to be preserved in some way for the sake of posterity. I have set myself to this work as a labour of love, and trust it may prove of some little value to those that follow after. 2 CONTENTS. History of Kildwick Church. In the days of the ancient Britons, and afterwards of the Romans, CHAP. this part of Craven was an immense thick-set forest, and in early I. THE PARISH Saxon times abounded in gigantic oaks and very much wood. In II. THE CHURCH the fourteenth year of the reign of the Saxon King Edgar, surnamed “the Peaceable, " the “Kirk Wood " as it was called, III. THE RESTORATION OF 1901-3 reached from Kildwick Woodside Gill to the N. W. limits of Royd IV. THE VICARS House Farm. It was probably out of one of these gigantic oaks, V. THE ASSISTANT MINISTERS growing' hard by the Kirk, that the old oak chest was made, which at present stands in the Church vestry. This very ancient and VI. THE PARISH CLERKS AND SEXTONS remarkable relic of sacred furniture appears to have been hewn VII. THE STIVERTON MONUMENT or perhaps burnt out of the solid trunk, much after the manner of VIII. THE MEMORIAL TABLETS savage tribes in the construction of their canoes. The chest is very huge and heavy, with an extraordinary ponderous lid. IX. THE STAINED WINDOWS Several centuries would have elapsed after the Conquest before X. THE GRAVESTONES the timber was cleared away. According to the Domesday Survey XI. THE PARISH REGISTERS the land was taxed from 1/- to 1/4 per acre, and the rent was not above Id. or l.5d. per acre. Four centuries after the Conquest there were still no enclosures, only tofts, or insulated messuages had each a croft or toft annexed to them. The meadows lay open or in common next the township field, which was occupied in the 3 cultivation of barley and wheat, flax and hemp; at a distance, living in 2,600 houses. After the census 'of 1901, the Registrar- parted by a wall, was the common pasture for the cattle, and then General made the following' return, viz.: beyond a wide waste of moorland and fell, grazed by sheep. — "Parish Almanack,” 1870. Farnhill (part of) 163 inhabited houses; 626 population. At that period, Kildwick must have been a literal “backwoods" Kildwick ... 34 „ ,, 146 settlement, if we may judge from the numerous instances of Glusburn(part of) 327 ,, ,, 1334 „ beasts and birds of prey plaguing the district. The Total 524 2106 Churchwardens' books show numerous instances from A. D. 1669 and during the following century, in which small amounts were Great changes had taken place, and the Parish of Kildwick paid for the slaughter of foxes, badgers, otters, foumarts, consists now only of Kildwick Township, Farnhill, and part only of hedgehogs, kites, hawks, &c. In 1673 we find 3/10 awarded to Crosshills, in the Township of Glusburn, the other townships three persons for 150 crows' heads. having been separated from the mother Church in order to form The extensive Parish of Kildwick consists of the following distinct parishes The Domesday Survey is as follows : Townships, viz., Kildwick, Silsden, Steeton, Holden, Farn-hill, "TERRA REGIS. Estburne, Bradley, Cowling, Cononley, Glusburne, and Sutton-in- In Childeuuic Archil n car. ad gld. 7 l eccta. Airedale. The area according to the Ordnance Survey is In Esebrune Gamelbar 111 caruc' tre 7 11 bou ad gld. 22,536ac. 3r. 19p., and from a "Statement printed The Parish. for In Cutnelai Torchil 11 car ad gld. circulation in the Parish by the Rev. J. T. C. Fawcett, Vicar," we In Bradelai Archil Torchil 7 Gamel v11 car ad gld. find that the population in 1851 was 11,714, viz., Cowling, 2,304 ; In Fernehil Gamel 11 car ad gld. Silsden, 2,508 ; Sutton, 1,657 ; Cononley, 1,272 ;' Glusburn, In Sutun Rauenchil 11 car ad gld." 1,331 ; Steeton, 1,289 ; Bradley, 571 ; Farnhill, 581 ; Kildwick, The meaning of which is :' 201. In 1871 the population was found to be 11,717 persons LAND OF THE KING. Manor. In Childewic Archil had 2 carucates to be taxed, 4 and 1 church. In Siglesdene hhr v taini vm car tree ad gld." Manor. In Esebrune (Eastburn) Gamelbar had 3 carucates i.e. LAND OF OSBERN DE ARCHES IN CRAVEN. of land and 2 oxgangs to be taxed. 5 Manors. In Siglesden (Silsden) 5 thanes had 8 carucates of Manor. In Cutnelai (Cononley) Torchil had 2 carucates to land to be taxed. be taxed. These Manors afterwards became accessions to the Skipton Fee, 3 Manors. In Btadelai (Bradley) Archil, Torchil and Gamel though by what means cannot now be discovered. William de had 7 carucates to be taxed. Percy also held a Manor in the last-mentioned villages, " In Manor. In Fernehil (Farnhill) Gamel had 2 carucates to Glusebrun 7 Cheldis, fifi Gamel 111 car Wills fit," which means " be taxed. Land of William de Perci. Manor—In Glusebrun (Glusburn) and Manor. In Sutun (Sutton) Ravenchil had 2 carucates to Cheldis (Malsis) Gamel had three carucates. William has it." be taxed. All these soon after became members of the first Skipton Fee The Village and Manor of Kildwick were amongst the first granted to Robert de Romille. Gislebert Tison also held donations to the Priory of Etnbsay by Cecilia de Romille its considerable estates here, viz., " In Estbrune n c. / n bo.: In foundress, the daughter of a Norman noble, to whom great Stiuetune in car' hh Gamelbar m til Gislebert tison : g^ In estates in Craven were granted by the Conqueror. The Priory Glusebrun 7 Chelchis 111 car Gamel fit) Gislefr lit." The meaning was afterwards translated to Bolton, and the noble pile, still of which is : In Estbrune (Eastburn) 2 carucates and 2 oxgangs : standing majestic in its ruins, was erected by the clear-sighted In Stivetune (Steeton) 3 carucates Gamelbar had, Gislebert Tison monks on one of the most picturesque sites by the River Wharfe. now has it : Manor. In Glusebrun and Chelchis (Malsis) Gamel In that House it continued until the dissolution of Bolton Priory had 3 carucates, Gislebert has it. A.D. 1540. " Kyldewyk. In eadem villa est i car. terrae quam Prior de Bolton " TERRA OSBERNI DE ARCHES. IN CRAVE. tenet in puram et perpetuam elemosinam a tempore unde non extat memoria, et nullum inde fit servitium de quo fit mentio in 5 inquisionibus praedictis."— Kirkby's "Inquest" A.D. 1284. Which co-heir of her neice, Sarah Currer, succeeded to the estate on translated runs thus: “Kildwick. In the same village is 1 carucate the death of his cousin, Sarah Currer, A.D. 1759, and assumed of land, which the Prior of Bolton holds for pure and perpetual the name of Currer. The next owner was the Rev. Henry alms from time immemorial, and for which no service is done, Richardson, Rector of Thornton-in-Craven, 1758-1784, son of the concerning which there is mention made in the aforesaid inquisi- Rev.