Elmet's Post-Mediaeval Era
Up to the present day
If any group or individual has further information, additions or differing evidence and would like to share it here then please get in touch by email on tykes@boozer.co.uk. Any support we can offer such groups or individuals is available for the asking.
Last updated 04/05/06
Airfield at A1 - A64 crossroads.
Details on the WW1 airfield near the A1-A64 Bramham Crossroads is coming to light. More asap. (posted May 2006)
Elizabethan and 17th century estate changes. Enparking.
Parlington Estate.
The avenue within takes us on and up the slope. It was planted in 1783 by George Gascoigne and leads up to a victory arch. That was the entrance gate to the house grounds. It was built especially to welcome George III in 1784 on his visit to the house. Gascoigne had vast interests in the American colonies and supported, as many local lords did, the fight for American independence. No more than a business take-over in many ways. Along the front of the arch are the words "Freedom Triumphant in America!".
King George approached up the driveway, saw the arch, read the words and turned in anger - staying the night at nearby Haselwood Castle instead. Also the home of supporters of the American 'buy-out' - but less vocal ones.
"Freedom Triumphant in America." Gascoine's slight to George III on his visit in 1784.
...........Railways, coal mining, etc.
Haslewood Castle
Lotherton Hall.
Harewood House.
Calverley Hall.
Temple Newsam.
Ledston Hall.
The village of Leadston or Ledston is of later 16th century vintage
than it's earlier Celtic beginnings and grew along the new road system serving the Hall,
which is an Elizabethan structure.
Through the village and climbing the gentle time worn road to the junction ... straight
opposite is what is now a cart track continuing up the hill. There, to the sides of this
track is the site of the original Celtic village. Nothing remains above ground now to mark
this historical place.
Towton Hall
Edward Hawke. He was born on 21st February 1710 in London and joined the navy in February 1720 being promoted to no less than Rear-Admiral for his distinguished service against the French in the War of the Austrian Succession. In October 1747 he captured six French warships in a brilliant action that took place off the coast of Brittany.
As commander of the fleet blockading the French naval station of Brest in 1759, he played a vital part in preventing French reinforcement to Canada, where the British conquered the territory in the Seven Years War. As a counter-offensive the French decided to invade Great Britain, the French fleet at Brest being crucial to this plan and on 14th November 1759, the French Admiral Hubert de Brienne, Count de Conflans, taking advantage of an opening in Hawkes' blockade, headed southeast from Brest along the French coast to pick up troops for the invasion. But six days later Hawke's fleet of some 23 ships caught up with the 21-strong French squadron and a westerly gale drove the French squadron into Quiberon Bay where a three-hour battle ensued. Hawke was victorious with nine French ships destroyed and the remainder disabled. Hawke retired from sea duty after the battle. He served as First Lord of the Admiralty from 1766-1771 and was made Baron of Towton in 1776. He died on 17th October 1781. We will come across this family again at Scarthingwell Hall, to the south.
Grimston Hall
Grimston was enparked in the 18th century and just what was where previous to that is very difficult to say. As the road heads up the hill from the Stutton turning it wends its way around a hill to the right. Houses are there and it is one possible position for the old village - or the place where the village was moved to two and a half centuries ago to make room for the 'new' design of the park.
A couple of hundred yards further and the main gates to Grimston Park are on the left. Turn left here and into the driveway.
Grimston Hall Circa 1890
Grimston Hall July 2004
Looking across the Cock Valley from Grimston Park's drive. The mediaeval strip farming obvious in the foreground. July 2005
This is a public access to a private estate, mainly to allow customers to visit the garden centre which seems to do a busy trade. The size and scale of the estate is obvious to anyone as they drive down this tarmac road past the huge ancient trees and a smoothed landscape. As for earlier days? The village was likely named after a chap called Grim - no surprise there, but this would indicate it as being of Norse ownership and there are few such places south of the river. We will, however, come across a couple more as we go on our travels. Grimston - Grim's Town - exactly who was Grim and where his original town lay is not known.. Such enparking as happened here flattened any evidence of so very many old villages throughout the country. The little we know of Grimston is all fairly recent. An early wooden hall burned down in the time of William Grimston during the late 1600's. The present hall was built by Lord Howden in 1840 to replace an earlier building from the late 1700's set up by John Carr an architect of York. So that is three halls in as many centuries. We know that Grimston passed through many hands. In the time of Elizabeth I it was bought by the Stanhopes. A later Sir Edward Stanhope was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1615, but time saw the house and lands pass into the Gascoigne family, whom we have come across before and will again. It was purchased in 1815 by the Hon. John Cradock who later became Lord Howden and built the present hall as we have said. His son sold it to the Hon. Albert Denison who became Lord Londesborough in 1849 and it passed again in 1873 to John Fielding and then to that gent's nephew, Thomas Fielding in 1897.
Grimston's Kirby Wharfe Gatehouse
Etc Etc
Engineering coming of-age.
The English Civil War.
1998 saw the 350th anniv. of the third and final siege of Pontefract Castle before it's destruction in 1649.
Canals & roadbuilding.
The Local Connection with the American Revolution.
Coaching.
Highwaymen.
Inns. - see Tourism page for info on remaining houses.
Henry VIII through Yorkshire
By Wm. Vavasour Esq.
In the 38th year of King Henry the Eighth, his Majesty made his progress to the City of York. Among his nobles and honourable retainers, one Dr. Tunstall attended, who was a famous and learned man, and then Bishop of Durham, one of the greatest travellers into foreign nations of that time. When the King was come some miles on the north of Doncaster this Bishop took upon him about Scaursby Leazes, to show his Majesty one of the greatest and richest valleys that ever he found in all his travels through Europe, and moved the King to look about him and behold the great mountains and great hills on the east side of the said valley, being called York wolds and Blackamoor, and upon the west hand the high fells of Craven, and all within the County of York, the breadth about 40 miles, and the length of the valley about 50 miles, wherein betwixt Doncaster, which is the South point, and the confines of the Bishoprick of Durham, which is the north point thereof, you pass in a direct line northward within the compass of Yorkshire 7 great rivers, and all navigable to the place you pass over or very near, viz.; the river Don at Doncaster, which hath there two streams, the river Aire at Ferrybridge, the Wharfe at Wetherby, the Nidd at Walshford, the "Your" at Boroughbridge, the Swale at Topcliffe, Teage at Nesham, all on the road between London and Berwick.
Upon the west hand not far from the street or road you leave the river Calder and not 5 miles on the East hand the river Ouse, which brings ships of great burthen.
Very near the centre of this valley is seated upon a rising of a hill the manor house of Hazelwood where the ancient name and family of Vavasour has continued and dwelt there ever since the time of William the Conqueror as by good record appeareth. And within eight miles of this house (or little more) are all these prospects and pleasures which are not to be found in so plentiful a manner in so small a compass within all England, that is to say 165 manor-houses, the dwellings of Lords, knights, and Gentlemen of the best qualities inhabited at this present or within this few years last past, by the gentlemen whose names are set down hereafter; 275 several woods whereof some of them contain 500 acres of wood, 32 parks, 2 chances of deer, 12 rivers and brooks whereof 5 are navigable upon which are 76 watermills for corn and stored with exceeding many salmon and other fishes, 25 coalmines which yield abundance of coal for the whole country; 6 market towns and but ten miles distant from York, where there are 3 market days every week, and every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday great store of sea-fish new and fresh from the sea; three forges for making of iron, and stone for making the same, great store of corne and cattle, yielding that which is sufficient for the benefit of the Counties adjoining, and for the sustenance of men and beasts; within the said limits there wanteth nothing that any other county hath, flesh, fish, fowl, great store of meadow and pasture, and excellent air.
And for pleasures which recreate the minds and bodies of men there are within these limits as much sport and pleasure as in any place in England, in the arts of hunting, shooting, fishing and fowling. There is within this limit one thing which must not be forgotten, which is, that there may be found more excellent free stone, lime and plaster than would build as many churches, cities and castles as are at this day in all Yorkshire; In probability whereof, there is good evidence in the hands of Vavasour. Out of a little piece of a quarry within the manor of Haslewood have been taken the Cathedral Church of York, the Minsters of Howden, Selby and Beverley, the Abbey of St. Mary's in York, Thornton College in Lincolnshire and divers other churches.
The Manors with additions of the now or late Honors within 10 miles compass of Haslewood.
The Manor of York - The King's House
The Honor of Pontefract - The same
Knaresborough Castle - The Queen's jointure
Cawood Castle - The Lord Archbishop of York
Bishopthorpe - The same
Spofford Manor - The Earl of Northumberland
Heaghley House - Lord Wharton
Harewood House - The Earl of Strafford
Gawthrop Hall - The same
Pontefract, the New Hall - The Earl of Shrewsbury
Swillington - The Lord Darcy and Menill
Eskirk - Lord Howard
Walton - Lord Fairfax vis. Emsley
Nun Appleton - Lord Fairfax
Bilbrough - The same
Hamilton - Sir Thos. Widdrington
Helthwate Hill - The same
Aldwalley - Sir Jervis Clifton, Knt.
Nostall Abby - Sir John Wostenholme
Kippax - Sir William Slingsby
Kippax Park - Sir Thos. Bland, Bart.
Grimston - Sir Edward Stanhope, Knt.
Haslewood - Sir Walter Vavasour, Bart.
Headley - Sir John Hewett.Brt.
Steeton by Sherburne - Sir Fran. Fulgeamb.
Toulston - Sir Robert Barwick
Barley - Sir Goe. Twisleton, Bart.
Methley - Sir Henry Saville, Knt. and Bart.
Temple Newsam - Sir Arthur Ingram
Seacroft - Sir Ralfe Hansby
Burne - Sir Andru Younge
South Milford - Sir Fran. Baildon
North Milford - Sir John Leeds
Byram - Sir John Ramsden
Wheele Hall - Sir William Gascoyne
Mooreby - Sir William Acklam
Nabourne - Sir George Palmer
Woodhall - Sir Walter Vavasour, Bart.
Kirksgill - Sir Geo. Wentworth of Wolley
Bramhope - Sir Robert Dineley
Swinden - Sir Benjamin Thornebrough
Cayley - Sir William Dalton
Farneley - Sir Thos Danby
Plumpton Tower - Sir Edward Plumpton
Stockhill - Sir Peter Middleton
Gouldsbrough - Sir Rich. Hutton
Allerton Malere - Sir Thos. Malavere, Bart.
Ribston - Sir John Goodrick, Bart.
Scriven - Sir Henry Slingsby, Bart.
Redhouse - The same
Middleton - Sir Ferdi. Lees
Barnebow - Sir Thos. Gascoyne, Bart.
Parlington - The same
Saxton - Sir William Hungate
Huddleston - Sir Phil. Hungate, Bart.
Whixley - Sir Richard Tankred
North Dighton - Sir William Ingleby, Bart.
Lindley - Sir Guy Palmes
Leathley - Sir Ing. Hopton
Bardsey Manor -
Nidd - Sir Francis Trapps Bernand
Copgrave - Sir Tho. Harrison
Steeton - Sir William Fairfax
Temple Copenthorpe - Sir William Vavasour
Popleton - Sir Tho. Hutton
Coulthrop - Sir Tho. Walmesley
Colton - Sir Geo. Ratcliffe
Bramham biging - Sir Fran. Armitage
Beeston - Sir John Wood
Cattall - Sir William Ingram
Overton - Sir William Belts
Beningbrough - Sir Thomas Bourchier
Heath Hall - The Lady Bowls, Baronetesse
--------------
Wighill - Mr. Stapleton
...asedike - The same
Scarthingwell - Mr. Hammond
...oulton - Mr. Anlabie
Lead - Mr. Vavasour
Smawes - Mr. Foster
Wothersom - Mr. Maliverer of Arneclif
Oglethorpe - Mr. Oglethorpe
Berkin - Mr. Cressy
Brotherton - Mr. Tindall
Scarcroft - Mr. Rither
Ledston - Mr. Witham
Leadsham - Mr. Harebred
(Win)strop - Mr. Moore
(Ake)ton - Mr. Beckwith
Gateforth - Mr. Brooke
Munkfriston - Mr. Wilson
Sharleston - Mr. Slingers
Credling Stubbs - Mr. Percy
Thorpe Hall - Mr. Clough
Roundhay - Mr Oglethorpe of Roundhay
Kiddal - Mr. Ellis
Sturton - Mr. Gascoyne
Munk.... - Mr. Killingbeck
Walton-head - Mr. Johnson
Arthington - Mr. Arthington
Casley - Mr. Arthington of Casley
Burrougbridg - Mr. Tankred
Aldbrough - Mr. Aldbrough
Scotton - Mr. Pullon
Breame - Mr. Cholmeley
Rither - Mr Robinson
Cawood - Mr. Lister
Barkston - Mr. Barkston
Beckay - Mr. White
Micklethwate Grange - Mr Bilby
Marston - Mr. Thwates
Appleton Northall - Mr. Moyser
Acaster Selbey - Mr. Harrison
Stillingfleet - Mr. Ellerkar
Kelfeild - Mr. Stillington
Uskelfe - Mr. Persons
Horneington - Mr. Topham
Pallethorpe - Mr. Inglebye
Askam Mr. Newarke
Askam Grange - Mr. Gayle
Askam parva - Mr.Swales
Askam magna - Mr. Geldard, Alderman of York
Bilton in the Ainsty - Mr. Snawsell
Bilton parke - Mr. Stockdale
Ackworth - Mr. Pickering
Monkroyds - Mr. Hammerton
Calverley - Mr. Calverley
Nunmonkton - Mr. Payler
Horsforth - Mr. Stanhope
Tong - Mr. Tempest
Chevit - Mr. Nevill
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Touring map of Lumby 1720
A History of Wakefield Yorkshire.
First published 1712 and this reproduction from the reprint of 1738
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