Spennithorne
Spennithorne | |
---|---|
North Yorkshire | |
Ambulance | Yorkshire |
Spennithorne is a village and civil parish in lower Wensleydale in North Yorkshire, England. The village is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east of the market town Leyburn, on a slight elevation above the River Ure, which forms the southern boundary of the parish.[2] The village is overlooked by the steeple of St Michael and All Angels Church.[3]
Spennithorne is approximately 4 miles (6 km) east from Yorkshire Dales National Park containing a range of wildlife habitats.
The village was historically in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and in 1974 became part of the Richmondshire district in the new county of North Yorkshire.
History
Although Spennithorne dates from Saxon times, there are very few facts recorded relating to its history. At the period of the Norman Conquest, Alan Rufus, to whom the Conqueror gave the whole of Richmondshire, distributed his lands among his retainers in feudal fashion, and in this division Spennithorne and Middleham were allotted to his brother, Ribal Fitzrandolph.[4]
In the Domesday Book Spennithorne is referred to as "Speningtorp" which Dr Whitaker[who?] states as the thorp or village of the "Spening", or a prickly thorn.
From 1856 on, the village was served by Spennithorne railway station, 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east of the village.
In 1870–72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Spennithorne as:
a township and a parish in Leyburn district, N. R. Yorkshire. The township lies on the river Ure, near the Leyburn railway, 2 miles SE by E of Leyburn; and has a station on the railway, and a post-office under Bedale. Acres, 1,280. Real property, £2,457. Pop., 198. Houses, 45. The parish includes two other townships, and comprises 4,680 acres. Pop., 852. Houses, 191. The property is much subdivided. S. Hall is a chief residence. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ripon. Value, £425. Patron, M. Wyvill, Esq. The church is ancient. The p. curacy of Bellerby is a separate benefice. Hutchinson, the Hebraist, was a native.[2]
Parish history
Spennithorne was historically a large parish, and included the townships of Harmby and Bellerby, which both became separate civil parishes in 1866. Harmby Beck flows into the River Ure near the village, here perhaps was Spennithorne Mill in existence in 1301, however there is no trace of its remains.[5]
Geography
Near Colliwath Wood lies the northern boundary of the parish and the southern boundary runs along the River Ure almost parallel with the A6108, about 0.3 miles (0.4 km) south.[5]
The nearest settlements to Spennithorne include Harmby 0.8 miles (1.3 km) north-west and Middleham 2.9 miles (4.7 km) south. The nearest major city is Darlington 27 miles (43 km) north-east.
The nearest railway station is at Leyburn, 2 miles (3.2 km) north west.
Geology
The soil is loam; composed of sand, silt and clay on a subsoil of limestone.[5] A variety of crops are grown here with great pasture for cattle.[6]
Demographics
The first
Housing
According to the 1841 census there were 199 houses in the parish (which then included Harmby and Bellerby). By 1921 the parish was much smaller, and there were only 37 houses in the parish.[9]
Occupational structure
Using information provided by the Vision of Britain website from 1881, it is possible to see the history of the social structure during the 19th century in Spennithorne and specifically the areas of occupation. There are 14 main categories of occupation, with the largest occupational status being Domestic Services and Offices (31%) with 37 people employed within this field. The next occupational status was Unspecified Occupation (12%) with 23 people and lowest occupational status' were Country Defence (1%) and Transport & Communication (1%) employing 2 people, of the 200 residents in the area.[10]
Landmarks
St Michael and All Angels Church, a Grade I
Spennithorne Hall, the seat of C. D. Chaytor, Esq., J.P., dating back mainly to the early 18th century is best seen from the hillside to the east of Middleham. The Hall is a Grade II listed building and is described as "a handsome mansion, occupying a delightful situation".[4]
Thorney Hall is another mansion in this township, the seat and property of the Hon. A. C. Orde-Powlett. Set within five acres of formal garden and woodland, claiming to have "the finest view in all Yorkshire" Thorney Hall lies in the heart of Wensleydale.[14]
Notable people
- John Hutchinson (1674–1737) – Bulmer's History and Directory of North Yorkshire (1890) states: "Spennithorne was the birthplace of John Hutchinson, a philological and biblical writer in his own day, however now almost forgotten. Hutchinson was the son of a yeoman, and through obtaining a liberal education he served steward to several families of position, notably the Duke of Somerset receiving a sinecure appointment worth £200 a year."[4]
References
- ^ "Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ a b Wilson, John (1870–72). Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales. Edinburgh: A. Fullarton and Co. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ "Lower Wensleydale: Spennithorne". Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d "SPENNITHORNE: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890". Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ a b c Page, William. "Parishes: Spennithorne". A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 1. Victoria County History. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ "Domesday Reloaded: Spennithorne & Harmby Gen". Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ Historical Records. "University of Portsmouth, Spennithorne AP/CP through time". Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ "Spennithorne (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ "GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Spennithorne AP/CP through time". Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ "Vision of Britain: Social Status, based on 1881 occupational status". Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ Hinson, Colin. "Spennithorne: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1868". Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ "St Michael's Church Spennithorne, N Yorks, UK – All Creatures Great & Small, Where Sheep May Safely Graze (1989)". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Spennithorne: St Michael, Lyburn". Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ "Thorney Hall". Retrieved 15 April 2013.
External links
- Media related to Spennithorne at Wikimedia Commons
- Spennithorne School