PREFACE. IT has long been a matter of regret with tourists, antiquaries, and naturalists, when visiting this interesting neighbourhood, rich as it is in monuments of antiquity, abbeys, priories, castles, and encampments—as well as in the magnificence and beauty of its natural scenery, the salubrity of its climate, and the enterprising spirit of its agriculture, that no historic and authentic record could be obtained of its curiosities and antiquities. The Vale of York, if Chevalier Bunsen may be relied on as an authority, is the most beautiful and romantic in the world, the Vale of Normandy excepted, and the district of which these pages treat, formerly known as the Forest of Galtres, is the most interesting portion of this interesting vale. The object of the Vallis Eboracensis is to exhibit a topographic view of Easingwold and the neighbourhood, and to rescue from obscurity the decaying relics of antiquity with which it abounds. In doing this, the author has endeavoured to embrace an entire history of each place, tracing out its origin and institutions from the earliest authentic sources, with biographical records of celebrated characters, and illustrated details of its antiquities, scenery, &c. These researches have been attended with a considerable amount of labour and expense, and many difficulties, which however he has not felt as a drudgery but a pleasure, having undertaken the work not in the pursuit of pecuniary advantage, but in the gratification of a natural inclination, and a desire to supply a crying want in the neighbourhood. If space had permitted he would gladly have given more extended quotations from the authorities consulted, but his object has been to give such evidence as might establish the truth of the information in the plainest and most useful manner. To Sir George Wombwell, Bart., of Newburgh Park, who allowed the writer the use of his valuable library of manuscripts and ancient works, which were of essential service, and for the gift of the plate of Newburgh Hall and his coat of arms on the exterior of the cover;-to the Right Honourable Lord Feversham for his contribution of the plates of Helmsley Castle and Rievaux Abbey;-to Lady Frankland Russell who kindly contributed the plates of Thirkleby and Aldwark Churches;-to the Venerable Archdeacon Churton for his learned and elaborate account of Crayke and its ancient Castle;-to Lord Viscount Downe and the Rev. John Overton for their very interesting details. of Sessay;-to Sir William Worsley, Bart., for his contribution of the plate of Hovingham Spa;-to William Waite, Esq., for his contribution of the plate of Crayke Castle ;--to the Rev. S. J. Allen for his valuable assistance as to Easingwold and other information of much interest;-to the Rev. R. Cooper, for his contribution of the plate of Ampleforth College; to Andrew Lawson, Esq., and others, who have manifested a lively interest in the work, the author returns his warmest acknowledgments. The work in its present form has been published at the request of several of the author's friends, and in endeavouring to satisfy their wishes, he humbly hopes that his labours may not prove uninteresting to a more extended circle of readers. Easingwold, June 21st, 1852. THOMAS GILL. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, 4 copies. The Lord Bishop of Rochester. The Right Honourable the Earl of Carlisle. The Right Honourable the Earl of Chesterfield, 2 copies. The Right Honourable the Earl de Grey, K. G. P. C. Lord Adolphus Fitz-Clarence, 2 copies. Lady Walsingham. The Honourable Lydia F. C. Dawnay, Beningburgh. The Honourable Payan Dawnay, Beningburgh Hall, 2 copies. The Honourable Octavius Duncombe, M. P. The Honourable James Macdonald. Lady Frankland Russell, Thirkleby Park, 4 copies. Lady Worsley, Hovingham Hall, 2 copies. Sir William Payan Gallway, Bart., M. P., 2 copies. Sir William Lawson, Bart., Brough Hall. Sir George Wombwell, Bart., Newburgh Park, 4 copies. Miss Frankland, Thirkleby Park. ADDERLEY Bowyer, Rev., Fillougley Allen, Rev. Samuel James, M.A., the Vicarage, Easingwold, 4 copies. Armstrong, Rev. H., Vicar of Whixley Atkinson, Moses, Esq., Roundhay, Leeds. Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. Allenby, Mr. James, Helmsley, 4 copies. Almack, Mr., North Bar Street, Beverley. Almack, Mrs., Hyde Park, London. Anderson, Mr. William, York. Armstrong, Mr. James. Atkinson, Mr. Thomas, Priory Mills, BARNES, Rev. J. A., Rector of Gilling, 2 copies. Barnes, Mrs., Gilling. Barnes, Miss, St. Catherine's, Horndean. Bellasis, A. F. Esq., Regent's Park, London. Blair, Lieutenant Colonel, Scotch Fusilier Guards. Barker, Thos., Esq., North Shields. Bittleston, Rev. Edwin, Perpetual Curate of Halton Gill. Blackburne, Rev. J., Duxford. Braithwaite, Rev. Wm., M.A., Vicar of Alne. Burke, Bernard J. Esq., London. Byers, Rev. Wm., Barton-le-Street. Bainbridge, Mr. G P., York. Barker, Mr. T., Sutton-on-the-Forest, 2 copies. Barker, Mr. Henry, Easingwold. Bell, Mr. William, Easingwold. Bickers, Mr. James Sefton, Mowthorpe, Terrington. Bird, Mr., Surgeon, Tollerton. Constable, Rev. Charles, Wassand. Croft, Admiral, Stillington. Croft, William, Esq., Do. Croft, Miss Anne Maria, Stillington, Crosby, John, Esq., Great Ouseburn. Carlton, Mr. Charles, Tollerton. Cattle, Mr. Timothy, Sheriff-Hutton. Clark, Mr. George, Helmsley. Clemetshaw, Mr. John, Easingwold, 2 copies. Clemetshaw, Mr Thos., Easingwold. Coates, Mr., York. Coates, Mr., Gilling Park House. Cooke, Mr. James, Howe Villa, Richmond. Cook, Mr. Christopher, Stillington. Coopland, Mr. Walcot, Lincolnshire. Coppin, Miss, Easingwold. Cordukes, Mr. Jos., Sheriff-Hutton. Cordukes, Miss, Boarding School, Easingwold. Coulthard, Mr. G., Engineer, Baxby Manor House. Coulson, Mr., Crankley, Alne. Crawford, Mr., Easingwold. DENTON, Henry, Esq., Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. Dixon, J. Esq., Lord of the Manor of Husthwaite. Diggle, Joseph, Esq., Merton Grove, Surrey, Duesbury, W. D. T. Esq., Skelton. Dowding, Rev. John, Easingwold, 4 copies. Dunwell, Rev. T. F., Crayke. Dennis, Mr. William, Stillington. Dennis, Mr. James, Tollerton. Du Vivier, Mr. J., Linton-upon-Ouse. EDWARDS, Rev. T. L., Brandsby Rectory. Eteson, John, Esq., Knaresbrough. FAIRFAX, Charles Gregory, Esq., Gilling Castle. Fenwick, Thornton. Esq, Stockton. Freemantle, Captain, R. N. Fawcett, Mr., Sheriff- Hutton. Do. Guise, Rev. G. C., M.A., Pulverbatch Rectory, Shrewsbury. Guise, Frederick Charles, Esq., Pulverbatch, Salop. Garbutt, Mr. William, Innkeeper, Garbutt, Mr. James, York. Gill, Mr. Wm., the Lund, Easingwold Gill, Mr. Christopher, Easingwold. HARLAND, Charles, Esq., Sutton Hall. Hartley, Rev. Thomas, Raskelfe. Harper, Alfred, Esq., M.D., Darling ton. Hawkin, Rev. C., Sutton-on-the-Fo rest. Haxby, John, Esq., Solicitor, Easingwold. Higginson, Rev. J., M.A., Rector of Thormanby. Higginson, R. Esq., Brafferton House Ball, Mr. George B., Thirsk. Harrison, Mr. Wm., Stamp Office, Harrison, Mr. Thomas, Acaster Hill. |