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splendid ruins of Rievaux Abbey, or to Byland Abbey, Newburgh Priory, and Kirkham Abbey; or to explore the now well known antediluvian cave of Kirkdale, or to the lofty rocks and sublime scenery of Hambleton with its deep caverns, frowning cliffs, and glassy lake.-The Hovingham woods also are well known to abound in an extensive variety of botanical plants.

The soil here is of a gravelly nature, resting upon a substratum of rock, which is sufficiently durable for building purposes. The quality of the soil is indicated by the massive and flourishing woodland scenery adjoining the town.

The streets of Hovingham are wide and spacious, interspersed with forest trees, limes, sycamores, &c., orchards of fruit, and garden grounds; and the houses are respectable and well built, many of them suitable for the accommodation of visitors to a rural watering place. The increasing popularity of its waters, and the late influx of visitors, occasioned by the many well authenticated cures effected thereby, induced the worthy baronet some years ago to erect a commodious and substantial Hotel in the centre of the town, called the Worsley Arms, conducted by Mr. William Garbutt, and families of rank and respectability there find excellent beds and every accommodation requisite on very reasonable terms.-Carriages and conveyances are kept for the convenience of visitors to the spas or elsewhere.

Although Hovingham, on account of its delightful situation, beautiful scenery, and many attractions, has been, styled a "poetic place," yet, we are not aware that any inspired characters, save the occasional effusions of "the unlettered muse" have been fostered beneath its sheltering bowers. Could we ransack the history of past generations now sleeping quietly beneath the grassy sod, we should no doubt become acquainted with many a tale of thrilling interest:-here no doubt we should find manly youths in whose breasts glowed the flame of ambition,-whose souls were lighted up with the fires of genius, and whose bosoms were warmed with poetic fire:

"Some mute, inglorious Milton here may rest,

Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood."

Gilling.

(Ghellinge-Domesday Book. Gilling-Dugdale & Torr. Gilling.)

ILLING is situated on the main road from York to Helmsley, in the wapentake of Rydale and Archdeaconry of Cleveland, and is 8 miles from Easingwold, 5 from Helmsley, and 18 from York. The town is flanked by a clear stream of running water, discharging itself into the Holbeck, which is crossed by a stone bridge at the northern extremity of the village.

Independently of the pleasing and picturesque appearance with which Nature has so largely invested it the place itself derives much interest from its immediate vicinity to the fine old castle and the venerable feature of its church tower.

Gilling is derived from zıl, (Sax.) a narrow dell; and ing, (Sax.) a place beside waters, signifying a dell-river-town.

The vale through which the Holbeck runs was anciently a lake extending from Flotmanby along the dale to Stonegrave and Nunnington, occupying a wide space betwixt Oswaldkirk and Gilling, and proceeding up the vale a little beyond Ampleforth."

From the same authority to which note (9) refers, we gather that a Roman road or ancient British Trackway, passed York through the Forest of Galtres to Crayke, Gilling, Helmsley, and thence to Redcar.

Previous to the Norman Conquest, the manor of Gilling was in the possession of Barch, (probably a Saxon Earl). William the Conqueror, after the battle of Hastings, assigned it to Hugh, son of Baldric, a Norman, who held it of the King in capite. The account is thus given in the Domesday Record:

Miscellaneous Papers of the Royal Society of Antiquaries Vol. xxvii. Plate xxxi, p. 404.

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