Elmet's Mediaeval Era

  Last updated 24/04/06

To cover from the Conquest to the Tudors.

Food and clothing to housing and finds.

Tales.

To Include - Castles:-

Pontefract - Sandal - Harewood - Hazelwood - Whitwood - Barwick - Leeds

Whitwood - Knaresborough - Conisborough - Etc.

Haselwood Castle (Haslewood-Hazelwood)

Raids.

Monasteries.

Roads.

More information is coming to light all the time and this page will be updated to suit.

Yorkshire Rose

The rose emblems of Yorkshire & Lancashire are well known today - as much through cricket as through any other fact - but there is argument over the heraldry of the earlier Houses of York and Lancaster. Minor enough - but of interest; did the Yorkist rose have one of it's five petals to the top or to the bottom? It appears that the Lancastrian rose had one petal to the bottom and a gap to the top. Whereas the Yorkist rose had one petal at the top and the gap to the bottom.

Simple enough situation - but an indication of the trouble with history. Reproductions of the white Yorkshire rose can have it either way. Even on bridges at York itself. Sometimes the fifth petal is to the top and sometimes to the bottom.

Richard III started the College of Arms in his short reign so heraldry of the time was perhaps not quite so sure of itself. Just another small point to be investigated.

Richard III

By The Grace of God, King of England and France

And Lord of Ireland

1452 - 1485

by

Peter Russell of Aberford - 1979

For more works by Graham Turner - click on the image to go to his website

Merchant Adventurers Hall - York

This magnificent Guild Hall, the finest surviving in Europe, is a unique and tangible reminder the the importance and influence of the merchants of York throughout the medieval period. Its basic structure remains largely as it was built in 1357-1361.

Place Names.

How much we can learn from a site's name. But can we? Can we be sure?

Sherburn-in-Elmet is said to come from shyre burn - clear stream. But, tidy as that would be, can we be sure? Names have changed over the centuries, spellings have varied greatly.

At present-day Castleford was a Roman fort by the ford, Tadcaster also had a Roman fort. The name for this was caister, hence Tadcaister - Tadcaster. In the Castleford situation the word caister changed over the centuries to it's medieval equivalent, castle, so Caisterford was now Castleford.

Clean and simple. If we can rely on it. Spelling didn't really become set until as late as 150 years ago. If Caister can change to Castle then what possibilities do other names have?

Look at modern day Aberford, there were two streams there which joined the Cock and the Crow. A 'confluence' or the 'mouth-of' rivers in the British tongue was/is  'aber' - enough examples are to be found in Welsh placenames. And there the old Roman Great North Road forded the Cock River. Aber - ford. Nice.

But hold fire. There also is reputed to be the remains of an abbey - perhaps even the one built by the monks of Iona soon after the one at Lindisfarne. So could the name have come from 'abbey-ford'? Or 'abbot's ford'?  Both are possible. The Norman family that took the area after 1066 came from Abbeville in France. The church is still the only one in England dedicated to St. Ricarius of Abbeville. So could we be looking at a time-shortened version of Abbeville-ford?

Nothing can be 100% certain. Indeed early maps of the area do show Aberford spelled with two 'b's' - Abberford. It is all too easy to take the obvious route - the obvious 'present-day' route.

But changes have happened and no one can be 100% certain that the version of a name which is now set firm in peoples minds by being written down is the original meaning or spelling.

Go back 200 years and Sherburn was Sherborn - at least on one map. If that map had been the key to Sherburn's naming then thus it would be today. The term 'shyre' can mean 'clean' - but there is York'shire' too - and that doesn't. It may mean nothing or it may mean everything - but allowances must be made when charging off down 'obvious' paths.

The suffix 'ton' is where the word 'town' came from. That is tidy enough.

But our own Barkston was also once spelled 'Barkstone' - many other 'ton's' may have been once too. It may mean something, it may mean nothing. But was it Bark's Town, or was it Bark's Stone? Just a simple example of how it is so easy to take that easy route. Keep an open mind.

Members of York City Levy

The whole area of Elmet has a wealth of tales and sites stemming from the medieval period.

Yet to come.........

Barkston Ash

BARKSTON, the hamlet from which the Wapentake derive ,its name, is partly in the parish of Sherburn, and partly  in that of Saxton. At the conquest the manor was given to Ilbert de Laci and it continued to be a member of the honour of Pontefract, though some of it (the fourth part of a knight's fee) was in the barony of Sherburn. We have met with some traffic in its lands already; 4th ides of February, 1228, the Archbishop grants to Robert de Barkeston and his heirs, a bovate of land, which Nicholas de Fonte holds in Barkeston, with toft and appurtenances, and with the said Nicholas, in exchange for the toft which the said Robert held in Sireburn, with its appurtenances. According to the account of John de Santon, Receiver of Pontefract, in 1274 John Welby paid 5/- for 18 acres of land in Barkston, including 5/- for a tenement, 12 acres of land, which Legros de Sherburn held at the terms of Martinmas and Easter. In 1350 a fine of £7 is paid for four acres of land and tenements in Barkston, in the hands of the lord of the fee, by reason of the minority of John, son and heir of John Dringe; and in 1367, Sybil, who was the wife of John Dringe of Barkston, pays to the lord of the fee, £ I 3 6s. 3d. in part payment of £26 13s. 4d. for her maritage. Robert, Abbat and Convent of Kirkstall, gave the tithes of sheaves and produce (ploventuum) to the Prebend of Fenton of 24 acres of land in Barkeston, and abandoned all claim of pasture or common against the Archbishop of York, or his successors, on account of the said land, or any land of the fee of the said lord Archbishop, without his consent. Sir Adam Paynell Kt., exempted the barons of Appleton from all suit of the lord of the fee for a tenement which they held in Barkeston. Alice, wife of Robert de Barkeston, and daughter of Robert de Ryedale and Alice, his wife, gave 4 acres and I rood of land in Melmerby to Fountains; she likewise, when relict of Robert de Towne
man, gave half an ox-gang there,
The village has given a name to a knightly family long since extinct. In the 3rd Richard I., 1199, Odo de Barkeston paid a fine of £106 13s 4d. for marrying without a licence a woman in the King's gift. In 1199, Odo de Barkeston, and Hawisa, his wife, entered a suit in the King's court on the feast of St. Edmund, 20th Nov., to recover possession of his land and mill at Monkton, which had been taken into the King's hands. They were opposed by William Fitz Ivo, and appear to have been partially unsuccessful, for, at a later period, we find the same

Odo and Hawisa seeking to recover the mill, which as yet remained in the King's hands. It is exceedingly probable that these two men were kinsmen, most likely cousins. Perhaps William Fitz Ivo is the same man as William de Barkeston, who is mentioned in the Rotuli Clwrtarum in a charter, "Ad pacem Domini Regis," dated 29th December, 1216, along with other knights, who appear to have conspired against the King, and by that charter were pardoned. Their tenure appears to have been a quarter of a fee in Barkeston, held by the Archbishop. William, son of Odo de Barkston, gave to the hospital of St Peter, of York, the tithes of his windmill, near Barkeston, in the fields of Saxton. Robert de Barkeston has been mentioned above. In 1284, Thomas de Barkeston held Barkeston; his son Walter, having been in the battle of Dunbar, aiding the Scots against the English; an inquisition of his lands was taken 27th Edward 1., when the jurors find that Alice, who was the wife of Thomas, father of the said Walter, held a messuage and 24 acres of land in dowry in Barkeston, of the heirship of the said Walter, and which said tenements ought to have reverted to the said WaIter, if he had stood to his fidelity to the King. Another inquisition tells that Alice held a messuage and 80 acres of land in Barkeston in dowry, which were forfeited by his defection. At the time of the first inquisition the jurors did not know whether WaIter was dead or alive, but he was absent, and, if living, was still connected with the Scots. There has been a taint in the family at this time of which we know nothing at present; in 1277 a Roger de Barkeston was an outlaw.
In 1262, Robert de Barkeston, and Alice, his wife, gave half a mark for a brief ad terminum respecting land in Lincoln; and Elizabeth, relict of Adam de Barkeston, Isabel and Hawisa, her daughters, gave to David de Cawood, Abbot of Selby, 1266-9, one messuage and one ox- gang of land in Haddlesey.
Notwithstanding Walter de Barkeston's attainter, the lands passed from his father ,to his heir. In 1316, John, son of WaIter, son of Thomas de Barkeston, was one of the lords of Barkeston, the other being John de Selby, who was certified as such, pursuant to a writ tested at Clipston, 5th March, 1316. Stephen de Barkeston, 'manucaptor of William de Parys, was Knight of the shire, returned for Lincoln in 1315. WiIliam de Barkeston, son of John, son of Walter, succeeded his father in 1329, and on the 8th ides of February, 1339, he did homage to the King for the lands and tenements he claimed to hold of him in Barkeston, acknowledging himself to hold of the King there one messuage and the fourth part of a knight's fee, sending to the Archbishop 16/10, and doing suit at the court of his manor of Sherburn-in- Elmete from three weeks to three weeks, This service was repeated 29th Sept., 1343. The testamentary burials (see p. 87) furnish us with a few more links in the chain of descent. Edward Barkeston died in 1556, as also did Anne Barkeston, his widow. Peter Barkeston died in 1610. Margaret Barkeston, who seems to have been the daughter of Peter and Margaret, (?) his wife, was one of the waiting maids of Lady Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Henry Savile. She bore to Sir Henry an illegitimate son, who took the name of Robert Savile, and received from his father the gift of the manor of Howley. Hunter says" in this son centred the talents of the family; and it was a great object with Sir Henry to release out of entail as much as possible of his estate, that he might re-establish a family in the posterity of this son," who became a knight, and married twice; first, Anne, daughter of Robert Hussey; and secondly, Isabel, the daughter of Alveray Copley, Esq., of Batley Hall. He had issue a son, who became the famous Sir John Savile; and by the second wife, a daughter, who was married to Francis Brakenburgh, Esq.
There are two coats of arms ascribed to the family. According to an old roll of arms, circa, 1592, the armorial bearings of Edward Barkeston, gent., in the Baliwyck of Skyrack-cum-Barkeston, were, Argent, a fess, doubly cotised gules, between three fleur-de-lys, sable. The other is, Arg., a fess, sable, cotised gules between three fleur-de-lys, azure - evidently a mere differencing.
The tithe corn of Barkeston belonged to the treasurer of York, as Prebendary of Newthorpe. Barkeston possesses a Wesleyan Chapel. The hamlet is in the Tadcaster Union and County Court district. W.W. 1882.

This obviously old village, small though it is, boasts two inns, The Boot & Shoe and The Ash Tree Inn. There is debate as to whether the centrally situated Boot & Shoe has a very long history as a public house, but the other facility, sat alongside the main road; The Ash Tree Inn, has certainly been in existence for at least two centuries or more and in it’s early days it was known as The Barkston Inn.

South Milford

Lead Village

Lead gets it's name from the same root as Leeds, Leadston and Leadsham - the Loides - so this must have been a very early settlement, pre-Saxon, never mind pre-Norman. But what do we have other than an old name? Take a look around. Over the road from the Crooked Billet is a bridge which carried a lane that came south from Haselwood Castle and carried on towards Huddleston, to the south. Cross over the bridge and there is at least some of the village of Lead. The meadow between the chapel and the bridge shows so much in the way of streets and houses. The chapel itself is not as large as it once was. The area to the north of it was seemingly also once part of the building. Over in the meadow to the left of the bridge are vast fish-farming pools with channels directing waters from the Cock through them and back again just before it reaches the bridge. Heavy rain still fills these ponds and highlights the design perfectly. Stonework still indicates where the water gates were that controlled this harvest of food for the village.

In this same meadow is a line with the occasional tree and a row of stone which indicates the road-side wall of several centuries ago.It is interesting to look how wide the road was back then. All of thirty yards or so wide. This is echoed further along next to Lotherton which gives us some idea of how that roadway must have been in past centuries. And here is just one facet of the interest with this old place.

Steeton Hall Gateway

The Gascoignes

The Despensers

The Fairfaxs

Rythers

The Legend of Sister Hylda

On the eve of St. Mark, in the year 1281, the Lady Abbess of Appleton assembled the nuns from St. Mary's Abbey, at York, the monks from Acaster Malbis, and the Archbishop from his castle at Cawood, to hold high mass, the cause being to lay the haunting spirit of St. Hylda to rest. For years a ghastly vision had hovered around the nunnery at Appleton, causing great alarm and terror to the people. On this night an awful storm swept over the place, the tempest howled, the lightnings glared, and the thunders crashed, and rattled their levin bolts.

In the midst of this whirling tempest, when "the holy Archbishop, in sacred stole, was before the altar, the veiled sisters of the Virgin Mary stood by the choir, and the monks were arranged beyond the fretted pillars of the chapel," there came a loud knocking at the convent gate, and the porters admitted the Grey Palmer, whose coming had been foretold by the ghost of Sister Hylda. He told how he had wandered through terrible dangers by land and sea, how he had fought in the Holy War against the Saracens, how he had crossed the burning sands and met the wild lords of the deserts in shocks of steel, but never was his soul so appalled as by the rage of the elements that weary night, "and how in the forests, where the pelting hail blasts, the red flashes of lightening, and the rolling torrent of the Wharfe opposed his course, the spectre of Sister Hylda screeched in his ear, 'Grey Palmer, thy bed of dark, chill, deep earth, and thy pillow of worms are prepared; thy fleshless bride awaits to embrace thee.' "  When the Palmer entered the sanctuary the seven candles which burned with perpetual blaze before the altar expired in blue hissing flashes.

A gloomy light circled along the vaulted roof, and Sister Hylda, with her veil thrown back by her skeleton hand, stood pale, grim and ghastly by the Palmer, who was recognised as Friar John. The holy sisters shrieked. The Archbishop, in horror, commanded the spectre to tell why she thus brake in upon them. Unearthly groans issued from her colourless lips as, with fearful agitation she thus spake:- "In me behold Sister Hylda, dishonoured, ruined, murdered by Friar John. He stands by my side and bends his head lower and lower in confession of his guilt. I died unconfessed and for seven long years has my troubled and suffering spirit walked the earth, when all were hushed in peaceful sleep but such as the lost Hylda. Your masses have earned grace and pardon for me. I now go to my long rest."

The roar of the elements suddenly ceased, soft strains of delicious music swelled in the air, and stole along the surface of the Wharfe, melting into the woodland; to the astonishment of the startled nuns a bright flame rekindled the holy tapers; but Sister Hylda and the Palmer had vanished and were never seen more.

The  Great Cawood Feast

There on the banks of the Ouse is the small village of Cawood. Not always was this the sleepy place it is today. Two events render Cawood renown in history: one for sheltering, in his adversity, that ambitious churchman Wolsey and two; the place where George Neville held his great banquet.

The first mention of the place is about 935 after Athelstan's victory over the invaders at the battle of Brunanburgh. From the twelfth to the sixteenth century the castle was the home or shelter of the noblest in church and camp. Henry III and his Queen rested here, here dwelt Marguerite of France, second wife of Edward I.

Edward II made Cawood his home on several occasions. In 1319, Queen Isabella, being guest to the Archbishop at Cawood attracted two Scottish knights, Douglas and Randolph with a chosen body of troops to attempt a kidnap of the Queen. This was thwarted by the capture of one of the Scots troops who told of the plan and the Queen was spirited away.

There is still some parts of the old castle standing today and a great residence it was in days of old. This was the seat of the Archbishop of York and many great times has it seen.

None greater than when Archbishop George Neville, brother to Warwick the Kingmaker, was installed as Archbishop in 1464 and set about making his presence known by inviting all the local nobles to a gigantic feast.

Take a look at what made up the menu.......

Wheat - 300 quarters,      Pikes & Breams - 608,    Porpoises & Seals - 12,

Oxen - 104,    Muttons - 1000,      Porks - 304,

Wild Bulls - 6,    Veals - 304,    Kids - 204,

Swans - 400,    Capons - 1000,     Biterns - 204,

Pheasants - 200,    Woodcocks - 400,    Egrittes - 1000,

Quales - 100 doz.,    Fowls - 200 doz.,    Cranes - 204,

Pigeons - 4000,     Geese - 2000,    Coneys - 4000,

Heronshaws - 400,     Partridges - 500,    Curlews - 100,

Plovers - 400,    Peacocks - 104,    Mallards & Teals - 4000,

Chickens - 2000,    Pygges - 2000,

Stags, Does & Bucks - 500

Venison Pasties - 1500 heated - 4000 cold,

Dishes of Jellies - 300,     Baked Tarts - 4000,

Baked Custards - 3000,    Hot Custards - 2000

Ale - 300 tuns,   Wine - 100 tuns    Ypocrass - 1 pipe

This required 1000 cooks, 500 kitcheners and 500 scullions to prepare it and 1000 servants to wait on the guests.         

Some time later George was stripped of his estates and imprisoned - doubtless this great banquet would be food for thought in his dark times.     

Roman Road - new perspectives.

Discovery of a Roman road between Sherburn-in-Elmet and South Milford opens up new perspectives on the mediaeval period. The Great North Road from Ferrybridge to Aberford has long been looked at as the later north-south link between York and London bypassing the Roman Tadcaster-Castleford-Aberford road.

This 'new' north-south trunkroute joining Tadcaster and Ferrybridge changes the scene's possibilities dramatically. It also opens up new thought on the battle at Towton in 1461 where it would, previous to this discovery, have been engaged in a back-road position with little sense or reason. The modern road must echo the Roman road-line to some great degree due to the marsh land to the east and the hills to the west.

More information is greatly needed on this ancient thoroughfare.

(See Mediaeval Battles page for update on the rewrite of the Battle of Towton)

Hazelwood Castle

The Vavasours

Ann, daughter of Sir Peter Vavasour of Spaldington and Willitoft, Knight, a scion of the house
of Vavasour of Hazelwood, became the wife of Thomas Langdale of Sancton, the son of Anthony
Langdale and Agnes (Constable) his wife.
Ann Vavasour’s father founded the chauntry in the chapel of St. James’s at Spaldington. He was Sheriff of York 1519, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew, Lord Windsor of Stanwell. He was buried at Bubwith.

His father
William Vavasour of Gunby, married first Isabel, daughter of Robert Urswick of Badsworth, who died without issue, and secondly Alice, daughter of Robert Mallory.

 His father
Sir John Vavasour of Spaldington, Knight, married Isabel, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas de la Haye, by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir (Robert?) Babthorpe of Babthorpe, Knight. Through his wife the Vavasours inherited Spaldington, which had been in the possession of the de la Hayes since the Conquest.

His father
John Vavasour, married Ann, daughter of Sir Henry Scrope, Knight, 6th Lord Scrope of Bolton by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Percy, 13th Baron de Percy, 6th Lord Percy of Alnwick, and 3rd Earl of Northumberland, who was summoned to Parliament in right of his wife as Baron Poynings, FitzPayn and Bryan.

His father
Sir Henry Vavasour of Hazelwood, Knight,
married Margaret, daughter of Sir William Skip-with of Ormesby, County Lincoln, Knight, Chief
Justice of England.

His father
Sir William Vavasour of Hazelwood, Stubs and
Woodhall, married Elizabeth, daughter of William
Stapleton of Edenhall, County Cumberland.

His father
Sir Henry Vavasour of Hazelwood married
Annabell, daughter of Henry Lord Fitzhugh of
Ravénsworth Castle

 His father
Sir Henry le Vavasour [His elder brother, Walter le Vavasour, 2nd Baron Vavasour (confirmed to Parliament 26 July, 1313), died without
issue. Henry le Vavasour, was direct heir]. married Constance,
daughter of Sir William Mowbray, Knight.

 His father
Sir William le Vavasour of Hazelwood was
employed in the Gascoigne and Scotch wars, and
was so greatly esteemed that he was summoned to
Parliament among the Barons from 6 February,
1299 (27 Edwd. I) to 7 January, 1313 (6 Edwd. II)
although not in every year. He was keeper of
the castles of Nottingham, Harston and Bolsover.
In 5 Edwd. II he had custody of the city of
York. He was in the wars in Scotland and present at the siege of Carlaverock in 1300 and is
described by the monk chronicler present:
“And of this same division was William le
Vavasour, who in arms is neither deaf nor dumb.
He had a very distinguishable banner of fine
gold with a sable dauncet.”
He gave to the Archbishop and Chapter of York
from the quarry at Theves-dale (Jack-daw crag)
the stone from which York Minster was built.
He also founded St. Leonard’s chapel in his castle
of Hazelwood, which because of his magnificent
gift to York was made extra parochial by the archbishop. The King’s charter for the chapel is dated 29 April, 1286 (15 Edwd. I), the confirmation is dated 5 June, 1452 ( Henry VI). He had licence from the King to castellate Hazelwood (i8 Edw. I). In 23 Edw. I he did homage for all lands and tenements which Alice, his mother, held of the King as of the barony of Bayeux (Bacocis). He married Nichola, daughter of Sir Stephen Walls of N Knight He died 6 Edw. II. In his will, dated 1311, he wished to be buried in the new chapel of St. Leonard’s of Hazelwood. His brother was Sir Mauger Vavasour, a quo Vavasour of Weston, Newton, Acaster, etc.

 His father
Sir John le Vavasour, lord of Hazelwood, gave to the Abbot and Convent of Thornton and the Prebendaries and Chapter of St. Peter’s Church, Howden, stone from his quarries at Theves-dale near Tadcaster to build their churches and repair other edifices. His sister Maud married Theobald Walter, brother of Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury. He married Alice, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Cockfield, Knight.

His father
Sir Robert le Vavasour was High Sheriff of County Nottingham, 21 Henry III (1236) and High Sheriff of Derby from 31 Henry III until his death. He married Juliana, daughter of Gilbert de Ros of Steeton, Yorkshire. He had custody of the tower of Peverell. In 9 John he paid a fine of 1,200 marks and two palfreys that his daughter, the widow of Theobald Walter, might be married to Fulke Fitz Warine, an eminent Baron of his time who held huge estates in Sussex, Yorkshire, and elsewhere.

His father
Sir William le Vavasour, lord of Hazelwood, a
Judge (30 Hen. II) 1184, was one of the witnesses to the charter of the Abbey of Sawley, County
York, re-founded by Maud de Percy, Countess of
Warwick. In a grant to the monks of Tadcaster,
Maud de Percy, daughter of William de Percy,
4th Baron, speaks of acting” by the advice of the
Lord Vavasour and other of our faithful lieges and
of our whole Court.” At her various castles she
maintained a rude state, verging on royalty. Her
elder sister Agnes de Percy, Baroness de Percy,
was co-heir and eventual heir to her father, and
married Josceline de Louvain, who assumed the
name of Percy. Sir William le Vavasour held two
knight’s fees of Sir William de Percy, 1187.

 His father
Sir Mauger le Vavasour gave to the monks of
Salley the mill at Hunslet.

 His father
Sir Mauger le Vavasour heads the Vavasour
pedigree.
Jane Vavasour of the Vavasours of Copmanthorpe, who married Anthony Langdale, was
descended from Sir William le Vavasour’s younger
son, Sir Mauger Vavasour, Knight, of Denton and
Askwith, a quo Vavasour of Weston, Newton,
Acaster, etc.; Jane Vavasour met a common
ancestor with Ann Vavasour, the wife of Thomas
Langdale, in Sir John le Vavasour, Knight, lord of
Hazelwood; he who gave stone from his quarry
at Theves-dale to Thornton and Howden. Of the
Vavasours it has been said that in twenty-one
descents from Sir Mauger le Vavasour (tem
William I) not one of them had ever married an
heir or ever buried his wife.
 

The many battles are catalogued elsewhere in this site.

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