Saltmarshe and Hook

 It's Easter Saturday  and  I'm going out to lunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. Tomorrow we are having the traditional roast lamb and will no doubt be eating chocolate!

In the garden it is that difficult time when the snowdrops - we have a lot-  are dying back but if we want a display next year we cannot cut them. The same with the daffodils. But in the meantime it is interesting to see what flowers are emerging - red campion, honesty, cowslips, forget me nots and this year a lot of violets. I have planted rainbow chard, broad beans, snowball turnips and cabbage so far in the raised bed but although the chickens are confined there are a lot of pigeons about. So all is netted.

I have been to two concerts recently - the first was in Cowick church where the Snaith choral society performed Mendelsson's  Hymn of Praise and Amy was the accompanist. It was very enjoyable although I understand musically challenging. [ I am not a musician!]

 
Snaith Choral Society, pictured in the Goole Times. Amy behind the keyboard!

Then I went to the first concert of the Howdenshire Music season in the Minster. It was a great opener- a full house to hear pianist Lewis Kingsley Peart perform  a very varied programme.

I have been looking at the histories of two different families. The first was very local and lived at Saltmarshe. Thomas Barker was  a shoemaker [or cordwainer] and was also the landlord of the Punchbowl  in the village in the early nineteenth century

I cannot find records so far of any earlier inn in the village and after Thomas left the village in the late 1820s [not sure whether he moved or died but cannot find a death record] the name disappeared and thereafter the village inn was The Plough.

Thomas married firstly in 1794 Sarah Parkin at Whitgift. Their son  Richard was born the following year and baptised at Laxton. A daughter Mary was baptised at Laxton but both mother and daughter died within a few days and were buried at Whitgift in 1797.

Thomas remarried in 1801 to Hannah Jewitt and their daughter Mary Jewitt Barker was baptised in 1803.  Hannah born c1862 died in 1821 and was buried at Laxton.

Thomas married for a third time to Ann Easby in 1827 at Howden. He was described as a shoemaker. Their daughter Jane was baptised at Laxton in 1829. Thomas was then described as a publican.

Thomas is listed as running the Punchbowl in records in the mid 1820s when a publican had to have an alehouse licence and someone to stand surety for him.  In 1826 this was John Fitch, draper of Howden. The Fitch family were prominent in Howden's history throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and ran a drapers' shop in Market Place. In 1823 Thomas' son Richard had married John's sister Hannah.

Richard was then living at Knaresborough, a wine merchant. He lived most of his married life at Bourne in Lincolnshire where he ran a wine and spirit business but was buried at Knaresborough in 1875. Hannah had died the previous year and is buried in Bourne.

 
Saltmarshe villagers outside The Plough in  the early twentieth century

The second family I have been looking at is the Calvert family of Hook. The Howdenshire Archaeological Society in connection with the 800 year celebrations of Hook church is looking at the stories of those buried in the churchyard.

I was asked if I knew anything about a Judith Watson whose stone tells us that she was buried in 1793 aged 60. I looked up what I could find about her and - like much family history- this led me on quite a trail. Judith married John Watson at Snaith in 1778. She was a widow, he a farmer.

Her first husband was William Calvert who died in 1777 and whom she had married at Hook in 1760. Her maiden name was England/Ingland. I thought the Calvert name seemed familiar and indeed it was. William and Judith were the parents of a son William born in 1767.

In the book Methodism in Marshland George West says that William Calvert was the leader of the Hook Methodists and lived on a small farm called 'Monica'. I believe too that he was the builder of what we now know as Heron's Mill on Hook Road.

I found this sale notice in the newspapers

Dec 1826

CAPITAL Brick CORN WIND-MILL and TWO DWELLING-HOUSES, at Hook, adjoining the New Town of Goole

 To be SOLD by AUCTION, at the House of Mr. Wm. Wells, at Booth Ferry, in the County of York, on TUESDAY the 19th Day of December instant, at Three in the Afternoon, 

Lot 1.all that very valuable Freehold and newly- erected Brick CORN WIND-MILL (being five stories high and having two Pair of French Stones, one Pair of Grey Stones, and a Corn Screen, and turning and striking its own Cloths), with all the Gears, Machinery, Utensils, and Appurtenances belonging thereto, situate and being in the Township of Hook, on the Borders of the new and improving Town of Goole, in the said County of York. 

And also, all that suitable and newly-erected MESSUAGE or DWELLING-HOUSE, Outbuildings, and Garden, and a very fine Orchard (newly planted and in a very flourishing state) adjoining and belonging to-the said Mill containing about Three Roods, in the occupation of Mr. William Calvert, the Owner. 

N. B. The above Premises, arc on the Southern Bank of tbe River Ouse, when Steam Packets daily pass to and from Selby, Thorne. Hull etc., and will be found a very eligible situation. 

Lot 2 . All that other valuable Freehold MESSUAGE or DWELLING-HOUSE, Barn. Stables. and Outbuidings, situate and being in the Town of Hook aforesaid, adjoining the Methodist Chapel, also having an excellent Garden and Orchard liebind the same, containing about three roods, now occupied by Mrs. Hannah Marshall. 

Mr. Calvert and Mrs. Marshall will show their respective Lots ; and further Particulars may be bad on  application at Redness, or (any Saturday at the Half , Moon Inn) Howden, at the Offices of THOS. H. CAPES, Solicitor. Redness, Dec. 4. 1826

In 1796 William Calvert had married Ann Marshall at Whitgift. They had family, including  a son Marshall born 1799  and William born 1805

Marshall died in 1823 and is buried at Hook. 

William married Mary Cooke at Selby in 1838.  They lived and farmed at Langrick near Drax. Their son, another William became a Methodist minister.

William and Ann, who had been living near their son, died in the their 80s within three weeks of each other and were buried at Hook in 1849.

 Herons' mill in the distance in the late nineteenth century

I know that an Alfred Calvert founded the Ouse Shipbuilding yard at Hook during the First World War but having checked there is no connection between the two families.

On a sad note I would also like here to mention the death of a good friend Ken Deacon of Howden who died recently. I first met Ken and his wife Anne when I was running a local history class in the town. 

Ken had been in the RAF and had moved to Howden to be near his wife's family. After a few years working at Brough for British Aerospace Ken retired. He became fascinated by the local airship connections in particular the R100 built at Howden

 Ken Deacon, an enthusiastic purveyor of Howden's history

Thereafter he researched, wrote books, gave talks, put on exhibitions and this culminated in the installation of the R100 airship trail though Market Place in Howden. Ken  was very knowledgable, enthusiastic and did a lot for Howden. RIP Ken. His funeral is in the Minster on 28th April at 11am

Sandhall and the Scholfields

 I seem to have missed February with my blog posts - well it is the shortest month!! As I sit here at the computer I can see a pair of blue tits trying out a nest box for size and the newly planted daffodils are flowering - but it is still quite cold so I am not so keen on going outside gardening.

It has been a busy few weeks. Recently I gave a talk at the Boothferry Family and Local History group in Goole about the history of Hook. The village has a long and interesting history and the church is celebrating 800 years this year, having been founded in 1225 when John de Huc was granted permission to have a chantry chapel. Other topics I covered were the Sotheron family, the Ouse Shipbuilding company, the Cleveland oil depot and the Milner family. It was difficult to squash it all in!!

But a couple of weeks before that I gave a talk in the aptly named Scholfield Memorial hall in Skelton about the Scholfield family of Sandhall. I enjoyed researching the family and also giving the talk to a  mix of long established residents and newcomers.

Sandhall in 1893

Here is a quick summary of the family and the part they played in our local history. The Scholfields came to Sandhall as tenants, probably from West Yorkshire.

I have a copy of the inventory of a John Scholfield who died in 1742. Although described as a husbandman he was living in a seeming gentleman's residence- He left possessions worth £900 [almost £170,000 today]- including 52 pewter plates and dishes, clocks, mirrors and tables as well as other furniture.

His son John was born in 1709 and in 1735  had married Deborah Wilberfoss at Skipwith. He bought much property in Skelton and died in 1770. There is a prominent gravestone on the floor of Howden Minster commemorating him and his family.

It was a third John who actually bought Sandhall in 1775. He paid around £13000. He built  himself a new house which still has the datestone 1777 over the front door and his initials JS. It is possible that some of the original house was incorporated. 

John had married Ellen Whitaker from Howden in 1771, a year after his father's death. They had three sons and a daughter. Their eldest son William inherited Sandhall. Their second son John became a banker and  alongside Messrs Clarkson and Clough went bankrupt, damaging a lot of local people who had money in their bank.

John died in 1808. William had married Ann Spofforth in 1797 and they eventually had 10 children. William played a large part in the local life of Howden.

1834 Last week, Wm. Scholfield, Esq., of Sand-hall, near Howden, according to annual custom, distributed amongst  his numerous labourers and the poor of Skelton, a large quantity of beef; some receiving from to 3 stone each, and others proportion to their respective families.

In 1851 he built a school/ chapel in Skelton which is still in use as a village hall and where I gave my talk.

When he died in 1854 there were many tributes paid to him in newspapers

August 25 1854 We  have to record one of the most distinguished marks of sincere regret and respect, which has ever been paid to the memory of any individual in this neighbourhood. The town of Howden has to deplore the loss of one of its worthiest and best of men. The name of the late Wm Scholfield of Sand Hall, has only to be mentioned, and the expression immediately follows, “There were few men like him,” but death, the common lot of all, has laid him low. In his own immediate circle the loss of a cheerful companion, a sincere friend, and honest upright and conscientious man, will be deeply lamented. Among the poor a sympathising reliever of their wants and sorrows will be deplored, and amongst his own tenantry and the inhabitants of the neighbourhood in which he resided, the affable, kind, and courteous demeanour of the departed gentleman, will not easily be forgotten. He has gone to his grave at a good age, having completed his 80th year

The funeral 

On Monday morning, August 14, the day appointed for the interment, the whole of the shops were closed, and everything seemed to wear the aspect of sorrow and of woe – even nature herself appeared to mourn the sad loss. The hearse was met on the road to Sandhall by the Rev. W. Hutchinson and the Rev. W. Sylvester, curates of Howden, and Mr. Gaggs and Mr. England, the surgeon and solicitor for the family-the tenantry following three abreast. Upon the arrival of the mournful procession at the Elm Tree, it was joined by the children of the Skelton School, wearing a black rosette on the left shoulder; then followed by a large number of clergymen, gentlemen, farmers, and tradesmen. The two clubs, of which the late Mr Scholfield was a life member, were represented by their officials, clad in long black cloaks, carrying their insignia. Such a spontaneous demonstration of respect and grief is not easily described; it required to be witnessed to be duly appreciated. 

The number of persons attending the funeral. is estimated at about 1,500. Well may the gentry of this and all other neighbourhoods take example from him, whose loss we deplore, since he was one of whom no one could speak but with respect and admiration. His death will be long and sincerely regretted.

After his death his surviving children had the magnificent west window in Howden Minster installed in memory of their parents.

Sandhall then passed into the hands of Robert Scholfield. He never married. But  he was well thought of too , like his father and in 1861 local people subscribed to a life sized portrait of him which is still in the hands of his family.  It cost £200 guineas then. - about £22000

After his death in 1868 another magnificent [although smaller!] window was placed in the west end of Howden Minster next to the one commemorating his parents.

Sandhall then passed to Robert Stanley Scholfield 1840-1913 who made many improvements to both the house at Sandhall and to his property at Skelton. He married Ada Elizabeth Paget of Welton in 1875 and they had six children.

The eldest Edward Paget Scholfield married Margaret Eleanor Heber Percy. 

Evelyn married Mordaunt Gore Booth,  

Helen Margaret married Bernard Henry Home Thomson youngest son of William Thomson late archbishop of York,  

Alwyn Faber was a well respected Classics scholar and the Cambridge university librarian

Ralph Beckett after a career in the City spent much of his life lecturing as a Christian Scientist travelling around the country and the US. Both his parents were Christian Scientists as were some of the Sandhall staff

Wilfred Stanley lived for a time in Canada and was a fruit farmer.

Edward Paget and Margaret Eleanor had two daughters, Mary and Helen.

Mary, who served at Bletchey Park during the war married her cousin Colum Gore Booth in 1947. They had three children but sadly Colum died in 1959.

After a second marriage to Michael Barker who died in 1982 Mary, now Mrs Barker, died in 2009 and the Sandhall estate was sold

Gribthorpe and weather

 A Happy New Year to everyone. I do not know where December went but now we are in January 2025 and  the weather is decidedly wintry. This weekend we had heavy snow but this morning it has all gone and we just have rain. Our pond level is very high and the birds are eating nuts and fat balls with great enthusiasm. Meanwhile our old cat, Poppy, is very reluctant to venture out and spends many an hour asleep on a bed.

But, as my mother, Joan Watson of Eastrington often quoted, every day it is 'a cockstride lighter' and the snowdrops and daffodils are well on their way.

I have watched some Christmas television - I enjoyed the latest Wallace and Gromit with all the witty humour -  but have also been researching on the computer.

I am engrossed at the moment in looking at the Eland family who had connections with Barnhill and Laxton but who spent many years farming at Gribthope.

For anyone who does not know where Gribthorpe it is not far from Bubwith. In 1892 it was described as

 'a small township situated about three miles east of Bubwith. It contains 875 acres of land, and present population is 29, The soil is strong clay; subsoil, clay. Wheat, oats, barley, and beans are the chief crops; a considerable quantity of land is in grass; and turnips and potatoes are sparsely grown. Lord Leconfield is lord of the manor and owner of the whole township, except 25 acres which belong to C. Blackburn, Esq., of Brighouse.'

It is still a small settlement situated on a dead end road

The Elands lived at Gribthorpe from around 1750 until the 1860s and were farm tenants of the Leconfield family's Wressle estate.

This was largely owned until a sale in 1957, by the descendants of the Percy family.  It is a slightly confusing story as to what these descendants were called!

The male Percy line died out and the vast Percy inheritance passed through the female line to the 6th Duke of Somerset of Petworth House who had married heiress Elizabeth Percy.

Their son Algernon, the 7th duke, died in 1750 with no legitimate male heirs.

So it was agreed that after his death the Percy lands should be split. Half should go to his daughter Elizabeth's husband, Hugh Smithson, who was given the title of Duke of Northumberland - this inheritance included Airmyn.

The other half should go to descendants of Algernon's sister who had married Sir William Wyndham, who was given the title of Earl of Egremont. This half included the Wressle estate.

Their grandson, the third Earl inherited in 1763. He was a noted patron of the arts, fathered around 40 illegimate children but left no legitimate heir. His eldest son inherited most of the property in 1837 but could not inherit the title and was known simply as Colonel George Wyndham.

Then in 1859, Queen Victoria bestowed a brand new title of Baron Leconfield on Colonel George, so the family continued to be known as Lords Leconfield. 

Researching  the Elands is therefore a bit of a challenge as most of the estate records are still held  in the Petworth House archives in Sussex.

Other families who lived at Gribthorpe after the Elands were the Hills who lived at  Gribthorpe Manor  and the Jenkinsons.

John Thomas Hill and his wife Ellen outside Gribthorpe manor c 1898

Edward Jenkinson of The Beeches died in 1915. The newspaper report reads as follows

 By the death of Mr Edward Jenkinson, farmer, of Gribthorpe, which took place somewhat suddenly  on Saturday morning at his residence, an esteemed and well-known Howdenshire agriculturist has been removed. Deceased, who was 72 years of age, and for half a century a regular attender at Howden market, was out on the land near his home and attending business upto Wednesday week. During the sixty years he had lived the farm he had never had a doctor, had spent but one day indoors through illness. and had never taken but one bottle of medicine. It was found necessary, however,  to summon medical aid  on Thursday morning, but  he never rallied, and passed peacefully away as stated. For many years he represented Gribthorpe on the Howden Board of Guardians, until advancing years prevented his leaving home early to attend the meeting. He resigned the some six years ago. He was a devout Wesleyan, and regular attender at the Spaldineton Wesleyan Chapel. He  leaves a widow, three sons, and two married daughters. 

Some changes have happened in Gribthope over the last few years!! - barn conversions etc and the threat of a  giant solar farm nearby but I am sure the Elands would still have recognised their village.

Here is an advert from 1990.