The rectory-house is an ancient, spacious, respectable mansion, on the east of the church. In the highest story is a place hidden by a sliding pannel, in which Dr. Basire was concealed from the Parliamentarians, who searched the house for him during the civil wars. The late incumbent made some good modern additions on the south. A Terrier in the Registry at Durham, without date, but supposed from the style to be about Charles I.'s reign, describes the glebe as follows:

"Certeyn meadow-closes, 26 acres or thereabouts; one close of arable ground ..; one close of pasture, 54 acres; one close, called Parson's Moore, 60 acres or thereabouts; with the parsonage-house, barnes, and other houses. Item, the tythe-corne and hay of Eglescliffe towne, and all other tythes in kinde. Item, Aslabie tythe-corne and hay, and all other tythes in kinde. Item, the tythe of the fishinge of three boats, fishinges on Teese, accustomably paying per ann. 6s. 8d. a-boate. Item, thirteen cottages, with 33 acres of grounde to them belonginge, accustomably paying per ann. Item, the tythes of Mr. Garnett's mills, 11s. "Customarie Tythes.-Mr. Christopher Hall, for Newsham, £4, 9s. 2d. per ann. Trafford-hill, £4. The parson of Haughton, for Sadberge, £2. The parson of Middletone-Rawe, 5s. Item, one close at Middleton-George, called Counflatt, 3s. 4d. Item, Fishgarth, £1, 10s. Item, christnings, burialls, mortuaries, marriages, offerings at Easter, churchings." Signed, Willm Warde, Francis Fox, Willm Thompson, church

wardens.

Archdeacon Clarke's visitation of this church, March 12, 1633, gives the following account:"The chancel in good repaire. They have a very fine Bible of the old edition, given by Dr. Birkhead's mother. They have Jewell and Harding, and the two tomes of Homilies, but not chained in the church. Under the arch, and immediately above the monument of the knight, an excellent edition of King Charles I. Works, in folio, and a folio edition of Bishop Jewel's 'Apology,' are chained upon a reading-desk, and are in good preservation. They want the king's arms betwixt the church and chancel, they want the book of Canons, and a poor man's box. The south porch, called Hindmer's Porch [now Pemberton's Porch], in great decay. The church-yard wall or dike in decay to be made of brick, or pailed according to the Canon; it is totally decayed. The south window, which is dammed upp, to be opened. The clock in decay."

Charities.

Hall's Charity-By indenture, February 16, 1660, between Thomas Jackson, of the one part, and William Hall, and 11 others of the other part, the said Thomas Jackson, in consideration of £100 paid by William Hall, granted to the said William Hall and others, their heirs and assigns, an annuity of £6, issuing out of four oxgangs of arable land, meadow and pasture, in Yarm, in the county of York, and payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas, with power of distress in case of nonpayment, upon trust, that the said yearly rent should every 10th December be divided into five equal parts, and paid to the churchwardens of Egglescliffe, to be by them, with the approbation of Christopher Hall and his heirs, distributed to five poor widows dwelling within the said parish, and who should have become widows whilst they dwelt there; and that in default of such number of widows, their room should be supplied with so many fatherless children, born and inhabiting in the said parish, under the age of 13 years; and it was directed that in default of so many widows or children thus qualified, the deficiency should be supplied with poor aged men dwelling in Eggles cliffe, until their places could be supplied with widows or children qualified as aforesaid; and it was provided that whenever the number of trustees should be reduced to three, the survivors should convey the said rentcharge to twelve others.

The last appointment of trustees was in 1722; and from the year 1752, the accounts have been signed by the churchwardens only. There is a memorandum in the book of accounts, stating that the rent-charge was withheld in the years 1723 and 1724, but that on filing a bill in Chancery in the names of the trustees against the owners of the lands charged, they submitted to pay the same for ever after. The property charged with this payment now belongs to Mr. Matthew Wadeson. It is received annually by the churchwardens, and divided equally at Christmas amongst six poor widows of the parish, who are appointed as vacancies occur by the vicar.

Yarm Bridge.-Leland mentions "Yareham-bridge of stone, a three miles above Stoketon, made, as I hard, by Bishop Skirlaw." The date of its erection is fixed in 1400. There is a tradition that the north arch was cut, and formed into a draw-bridge, during the civil wars. The structure originally consisted of five pointed arches; but that to the north has been made more capacious, and built in a semicircular form, to abate the violence of inundations; and the bridge itself has been widened and rendered a substantial structure. In 1805, an elegant iron bridge, consisting of one arch 180 feet in span, cast by Messrs. Walkers and Co., of Masbrough, near Rotherham, was erected here; but, owing to some defect in the abutments, it unfortunately fell down about midnight on the 12th of January, 1806, when it was just on the point of being opened. This bridge is stated by Mr. Graves, in his History of Cleveland, to have cost £8000; and the weight of iron contained in it was 250 tons.

Early Nook is a hamlet about a mile north from Egglescliffe, through which the Stockton and Darlington Railway passes, and where the branch to Yarm commences. Here is a vitriol manufactory, recently commenced by Mr. Wilson, of Darlington. Several new houses are erecting for the workmen; and there is also a public house near the railway.

AISLABY,

Or Aislakby, contains a small scattered village, one mile west-north-west from Yarm, and 5 miles south-west-by-south from Stockton. Here is a corn-mill, a blacksmith's shop, and a public house kept by a butcher. The township includes nine farms.

The abbot and convent de Augo gave to the prior and canons of Guisborough the land in Aslakeby, which Richard bishop of Durham confirmed. The ancient family of Aislakby is first mentioned in 1313, when William de Aislakby and Agnes his wife presented the chantry of St. Thomas the Martyr, founded within the manor, to Thomas de Manneby, chaplain. In 1410, the estate became, by marriage with the heiress of Aislakby, the property of Hugh de Asteley; and it was sold, July 10, 1557, by William Astley, to Robert Hindmers, Clerk.* The family of the latter falling into female issue, Aislaby was purchased of them, in 1595, by Michael Pemberton, Esq. His grandson, Michael Pemberton, of Aislaby, Esq., was a major in the service of King Charles I., and had two brothers, John and Henry, captains. John Pemberton, Esq., grandson of the last named Michael, alienated the estate, about 1720, to Robert Raikes, of Northallerton, Esq. In 17-, Robert Raikes Fulthorp, Esq., sold the reputed manor of Aislaby to Rowland Webster, Esq., of Stockton, from whose descendant it has been recently purchased by the Earl of Eldon. A younger branch of the Aislakby family held an estate here, which has been divided into numerous freeholds, passing through the families of Blakiston, Radcliffe, Story, Heghfeld, Bullayn, Brandling, Punshon, and Fowler. In 1684, the freeholders in Aislaby were, Michael Pemberton,

* The tenure of the manor, during the whole of the above period, is uniformly stated at 60s. rent, fealty, and the fourth part of the keeping of the gaol of Sadberge.

+ By will, dated 6 Sept. 1624, proved 1638, Michael Pemberton, of Aislabie, Gent., gives, inter alia, to his son, John Pemberton, "all his armoure and furniture, and books and implements in his study. Item, to remaine as heire-loomes at Aislabie, one silver salt gilt, one silver boule, six spoones, two standing tables in the hall, three long settels, one turned chaire, and two firmes, and the waynescot in the hall; one brewleade, one wort-troughe, one millanpott, one stande-bed in the great chamber, one chare embrodered, and quishons, and one iron chymney. To the poore at his buryall, penny dale."

Esq., at Northallerton; Edward Trotter, Esq,; Laurence Sayer, Esq., in Ireland; Thomas Bellingham, Esq.; William Fothergill, Gent., in London; and Edward Watson, Gent., in Yorkshire. At present, the proprietors, besides the Earl of Eldon, are, Thomas Waldy, Esq.; Thomas Meynell, Esq., of Yarm; William Skinner, Esq.; and Mr. William Holt, Belle Mount.

Fishgarth is a little piece of meadow ground on the banks of the Tees, probably so named from a dam or wear for taking salmon, some remains of which are still visible.*

* The following curious account of Fishgarth Dam riot is quoted by Surtees from an original paper. The offence to Mr. Bowes was, that the dam prevented the fish from running up the river.

"The informac'on of Francis Bunney, of Little Newsam, in the county of Durham, joyner, taken upon oath before William Blakiston, Esq., and John Morland, Esq., two of his Majties Justices of the Peace for the said county, the twenty-eighth day of September, Anno xxxiiio Caroli Sc'di.

"Who informeth, that on or about the last day of August last past, one Matthew White, of Ovington, in the county of Yorke, yeom', came to this informant, and did, in the name of William Bowes, of Streatlam Castle, in the county of Durham, Esq., desire him this informant to goe with him and others to aid and assist in pulling downe a dam upon the river of Tease, called ffish Garth Dam, in the parish of Eggscliffe, in the said county of Durham; and at the instance of the said White, he this informant did promise to meet him upon the beet of a drume, which he told this informant would be beet to call the people together; and that, according to his p'mise, upon ffriday the first day of September instant, heareing the beet of drum, he did depart from his dwelling house at Little Newsam aforesaid. In his way to Pearce-bridge he overtooke and came unto the company of the said White and others, to the number of thirty or thereabouts, whose names, or so many of them as he knowes, are hereafter discovered. And soe soon as he came to them, he travelled with them till such time as the said White desired him to ride on and stay some other p'sons that were before to joyne with them in the same designe; whereat he this informant rode before, and found twenty p'sons more, or thereabouts, at Pearce-bridge, whome this informant desired to remaine there till the said White and his company came up. That as soon as the said White and his company came to Pearcebridge aforesaid, they, together with this informant, and the other twenty, or thereabouts, did goe from Pearce-bridge to the said ffish Garth; and in their way thither there came to their aid ten more, or thereabouts; that at Neasham, in their way towards the said ffishgarth, one Mr. Henry Chaytor, of Croft, in the county of Yorke aforesaid, and one Mr. Killinghall, whose place of abode he knowes not, did call for ale, and drunk Esqe Bowes' health, and afterwards gave six shillings to them, to be by them spent in drink, which they did drinke, the drum beating, and they shouting and hooping, A Bowes! A Bowes! And from thence they went to the said ffish Garth, and there he this informant, together with the said White, and Robert Cuthbertson, of Barnard Castle, in the said county of Durham, drum'er; Robert Baxter, of the same, in the said county, laborer; John Shutt, of Whorleton, in the said county, yeom'; William Rowntree, of the same, yeom'; Christopher Shutt, of the same, yeom'; John Yarker, of the same, yeom'; Anthony Richardson, of Staindrope, in the said county, cordwainer; James Wild, of Raby, in the said county, millwright; George Speck, of the same, yeom'; George Bailes, of Wakerfield, in the said county, millwright; John Parcivall, of Gainford, in the said county, yeom'; - Parcivall, of the same, yeom', and the miller of Upper Conscliffe ; John Huggiston, of Ovington, in the said county of Yorke, yeom'; ffrancis Newton, of the same, yeom'; with eighteen more out of the said county of Yorke, and divers others out of the said county of Durham, whose names he knowes not, did pull up and breake down, with sawes and axes, soe much of the said dame as they could, and, if not p'vented by the height of the water, they would have pulled downe the whole. And he this informant was induced thereunto, for that the said White did assure this informant he had a letter from the said Mr. Bowes, to be left with Mr. Witham, at Sledwish, to be sent into the high lands, to get the said Mr. Bowes' tenants, and as many more as they could, to goe along with them, and that all their charges should be defrayed and borne. And he further told him, that Mr. Bowes was gone another way, and would meet them; but that he this informant did not see the said Mr. Bowes, nor had his charges, or heard of any that had them borne. And he further saith, that the said Cuthbertson did frequently beet the drum all the way on their journey; and that all or most of the said p'sons were armed with guns, pistols, swords, and other offensive weapons."

A certificate follows to the same purpose, signed by four magistrates and the under-sheriff. The dam is stated to belong to Sir Henry Marwood, Bart., and Timothy Maleverer, Esq. The rioters met by beat of drum, and did "discharge severall guns or pistols at the Fishgarth, and also threatened to burne the dwelling-house of one Christopher King, erected there." However, "as soone as they had done what they could

Trafford Hill, or Trefford Hill, is a commanding situation on the southern verge of the parish. In 1336, Thomas Graa held this manor by the service of a pair of white gloves on St. Mary Magdalen's day, leaving Thomas his son and heir, aged 22 years. In 1421, Isabel, widow of Sir Richard Tempest, died seized of Trefford, held of the bishop by the fourth part of a knight's service, suit at the manor court of Coatham-Mundeville once in three weeks, and a pair of gloves or 12d. at the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen, value xx marks, leaving Sir William Tempest her son and heir. Dionysia, one of his grand-daughters, becoming the wife of William Mallory, this manor passed into that family, from whom it passed to the Wentworths, and afterwards to John Witham, of Cliffe, Esq., who was owner of the estate in 1640. Robert Campion, Esq., is the present proprietor.

NEWSHAM.

This township contains four farms and six houses, three miles west of Yarm. It was early in the possession of the Aislakbys, and afterwards became the seat of the Halls, descended from the Halls of Gretford, co. Lincoln. Christopher Hall, of Newsham, Esq., the fourth possessor of the name, was charged with a horse and furniture for the service of Charles I., and compounded for his estate for £460. His son and heir, Lodowick Hall, Gent., sometime of Great Chilton (for which estate he also compounded for £419, 11s. 5d.), was a justice of peace for the county; and, with Christopher his son, sold Newsham to Robert Blakiston, of Old Elvet, Gent., whose greatgrandson, the Rev. Robert Blakiston, held lands here in 1738. Other possessions in Newsham belonged to the Coatsworth family. William Skinner, Esq., is now the proprietor. There was anciently a chapel in Newsham, dedicated to St. James.

PARISH OF MIDDLETON ST. GEORGE.

This parish is bounded by Egglescliffe on the east, by Long-Newton on the north-east, by Haughton-le-Skerne on the north, by Dinsdale on the west, and by the Tees on the south, reaching within 24 miles west of Yarm, and 44 miles east-by-south of Darlington. In 1801, its population amounted to 215, in 1811 to 202, and in 1821 to 209, consisting of 46 families, residing in separate houses; and the annual value of property assessed to the county-rate in 1828-9 was. £1638. The parish has no dependent townships, nor any assemblage of houses, except the village of Middleton-One-Row and the hamlet called Oak Tree. It contains ten farmɛ.

At the time of King Richard's grant of the wapentake of Sadberge to Bishop Pudsey, the son of Godfrey Baard owed the service of two parts of a knight's fee for Midelton and Hertburn. In the time of Bishop Lewis, the family of Surtees had acquired from the Baards their lands in OverMiddleton. In 1320, Rowland Bart died seized of half the manor of Nether-Middleton and Hertburn, held by homage, fealty, suit at the wapentake court of Sadberge once in three weeks, and 2s. 3d., leaving Ralph his son and heir. In 1337, Robert de Cambe held half a messuage and 30

at the pulling up of the said dam, they im'ediately dispersed, and returned peaceably to their respective dwellings." The result of the proceedings does not appear.

acres in Nether-Middleton, by homage, fealty, suit at the court of Sadberge, and 13d. for castleward; John his son and heir. This manor shortly afterwards became the property of John de Killynghall, a justice itinerant under Cardinal Langley in 1413: it was held of the bishop by 91d., and four messuages and eight oxgangs in Over-Middleton were held of Thomas Surtees, Chivaler, by the same proprietor. This property continued in the direct line of the family, till Francis Killinghall sold his estates in 1569, and, in 1587, died an officer in the garrison at Berwick. A third of the manor, however, seems to have been vested in a younger branch of the Killinghalls; and, after passing through the hands of various proprietors, the bulk of the property was re-united to that family by purchase from Richard Madox in 1606.

John Killinghall, Esq., a prudent and wealthy man, who died in 1574, was the father of this second line. His great-grandson, John Killinghall, of Middleton St. George, Esq., was a captain in the army of King Charles I., and compounded for his estate for £440. He married Margaret, one of the two daughters of William Lambton, of Great Stainton, Esq., and died January, 1651. Issue failing in his grandson, William Killinghall, Esq., who died January, 1702-3, the estate passed to Robert, successor to a second son of the last-mentioned John Killinghall, who married, first, Jane, daughter of George Allan, of Darlington; and, second, Sarah, widow of John Maynard, of Yarm. John Killinghall, Esq., son of Robert by his first wife, and the last heir male, devised Middleton to William Pemberton, grandson to his aunt Elizabeth, and great-grandson to John Pemberton, of Aislaby, Esq.; and his son, William Pemberton, Esq., bequeathed it to his maternal aunts, of the family of Cocks, of Plymouth, Henry Cocks, Esq., is now the proprietor of Middleton St. George, or Low-Middleton.

Low-Middleton Hall stands close to the Tees, surrounded by rich, warm inclosures. In the gardens is a very handsome cross, said to have been brought from Nesham Abbey.

The Church

Stands on high ground, to the south-east of the village of Middleton-One-Row. It is a small structure, consisting of a nave and chancel. Some years ago, on account of the influx of visitors to the neighbouring spa at Dinsdale, the north wall was carried out several feet, so as to admit of an additional range of pews. The chancel was, at the same time, entirely rebuilt, and the whole church new roofed with Westmoreland slate. On a marble tablet in the chancel :

"Sacred to the memory of William Pemberton, Esq., whose hospitality and social temper made him the delight of his friends; whilst his benevolent and charitable disposition justly gained him the character of a friend to the poor. He died the 11th March, 1801, aged 28.”

In 1312, the church or parsonage of Middleton St. George is stated to be divided into two portions; the one free from all ecclesiastical burthens, then held by William of London, chaplain, on the presentation of Ralph Bart; and the other charged with all the burthen of the vicarage, to which John de Cambe had presented his son, John Cambe, priest. Bishop Kellaw confirmed this partition.

Succession of Rectors.—Middleton St. George rectory; Henry Cocks, Esq., patron; a discharged living in the deanery of Stockton, pays no first fruits or tenths. King's Books, £3, 13s. 11⁄2d.; Tenths, 7s. 3 d.; Episc. proc. 4s. 6d.; Archid. Proc. 2s. Dedication to St. George.

John de Cambe, 1312.-Alan de Shutlington, 1359.-William de Meryngton, 1365.-William Sadler, 1466.—John Todd, 1501.-D'n's William Rippon.-James Orpyn, 1531.-Marmaduke Myers (vicar of