Site-Search
Coming Soon
|
Site-Search |
|
Page and site |
|
Pickering in York County England History and GeographyPICKERING, a parish in PICKERING lythe, North riding of the county of YORK, comprising the market town of Pickering, the chapelry of Goadland, or Goathland, and the townships of Kingthorp, Marrishes, and Newton, and containing 3555 inhabitants, of which number, 2746 are in the town of Pickering, 26 miles (N.N.E.) from York, and 222 (N. by W.) from London. The origin of this town is of very remote antiquity, being dated two hundred and seventy years before the commencement of the Christian era, and ascribed to Peridurus, a British king, who was interred here, on the brow of a hill called Rawcliff. According to local tradition, its name is derived from the circumstance of a ring lost by the founder whilst washing in the river Costa, and subsequently found in the belly of a pike. An ancient castle, of great strength and extent, which occupied an eminence near the western extremity of the town, where some vestiges are still visible, was the prison of Richard II., after his deposition, and previously to his removal to Pontefract, where he was murdered: in one of the towers still remaining Queen Elizabeth is supposed to have been imprisoned, during the reign of Mary, and it still retains the name of Queen Elizabeth's tower. During the great civil war this fortress was besieged by the parliamentary forces, and sustained considerable injury. The town, which is long and straggling, is situated on a declivity, at the bottom of which, and through a part of the town, flows a small stream, called Pickering-beck: the castle hill commands a fine view of the fertile vale of Pickering, and on one side is a barren mountainous district, called Black, or Blake moor, which extends to a considerable distance, and furnishes materials for making brooms: on the river Costa, which rises at Kildhead, and upon the old Beck stream, are several four-mills. The market is on Monday; and fairs are held on the Mondays before February 14th and May 13th, on September 25th, and on the Monday before November 23rd. Pickering was formerly of more importance than it is at present, having been the principal town in this district; in the 23rd of Edward I. it sent members to parliament. It is the head of an honour in the duchy of Lancaster, having jurisdiction throughout the lythe and wapentake, which are co-extensive, including two market towns and forty-six townships. A manorial court, for all actions under 40s. arising within the honour, is held on the second and third Mondays after Easter, and on the first and second Mondays after Michaelmas, in Queen Elizabeth's tower in the castle. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Dean of York, rated in the king's books at £8. 3. 9. The church, which is dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient and spacious edifice, with a lofty spire. There are places of worship for the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. The free school is supported by the interest of various endowments, and rent-charges, of unknown origin, amounting to about £80, with some subsequent small legacies, vested in trustees, and applied, under their direction, for the instruction of the children of poor inhabitants: the average number is one hundred and fifty. On Pickering moor are vestiges of two Roman encampments of great strength, and several others between the barrows and the town, as well as on the western moors. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
Readers of this page were also interested in: Bradford in York County England History and Geography BRADFORD, a parish in the wapentake of MORLEY, west riding of the county of YORK, comprising the market town of Bradford, the chapelries of Hawarth, Horton, and Thornton, and the townships of Allerton, North Bierley, Bowling, Clayton, Eccleshill, Heaton, Manningham, Shipley, and Wilsden, and containing 52,954 inhabitants, of which number, 13,064 are in the town of Bradford, 34 miles (S.W Bilston in Stafford County England History and Geography BILSTON, a market town and chapelry in that part of the parish of WOLVERHAMPTON which is in the northern division of the hundred of SEISDON, county of STAFFORD, 3 miles (S. E.) from Wolverhampton, 19 (S. by E.) from Stafford, and 120 (N. W.) from London, containing 12,003 inhabitants Cley in Norfolk County England History and Geography CLEY, a small sea-port, market town, and parish, in the hundred of HOLT, county of NORFOLK, 26 miles (N.N.W.) from Norwich, and 124 (N.N.E.) from London, containing 742 inhabitants. In 1406, Prince James of Scotland, on his voyage to France, to receive his education, was driven by stress of weather upon this coast; and being detained here, he was sent to London by order of Henry IV Edmonton in Middlesex County England History and Geography EDMONTON, a parish in the hundred of EDMONTON, county of MIDDLESEX, 7 miles (N.) from London, containing 7900 inhabitants. This place, which had risen into some consideration prior to the Conquest, is in Domesday-book called ?delmeton, probably as having been the residence of some distinguished personage during the Heptarchy Farnham in Surrey County England History and Geography FARNHAM, a parish in the hundred of FARNHAM, county of SURREY, comprising the market town of Farnham, the chapelry of Bagshot, and the tythings of Culverlands with Tilford, Runfold, Runwick, and Wrecklesham with Bourn, and containing 5413 inhabitants, of which number, 3132 are in the town of Farnham, 10 miles (W. by S.) from Guildford, and 38 (S.W.) from London, on the road to Southampton Monmouth County England History and Geograhy MONMOUTH, a borough, market town, and parish, having separate jurisdiction, though locally in the lower division of the hundred of Skenfreth, county of MONMOUTH, of which it is the chief town, 130 miles (W.N.W.) from London, containing 4164 inhabitants |
