was described as "a messuage called Over Cragg Hall.” This family has held possession of it ever since, along with other estates adjacent, as well as in Pannal, Beckwithshaw, and Timble. Stephen Parkinson died in 1763, at the ripe age of fourscore and six, leaving, by his will, the estate at Cragg Hall between his sons, John and Thomas; specifying the portions of the house, and the parcels of land to go to each. In 1776, John Parkinson sold his share to his brother, who thus reunited the estate. On the death of the said Thomas, in 1779, at the age of 70, he bequeathed Cragg Hall to his son, also named Thomas, who held it until his death in 1816, considerably increasing the family estate by additional purchases. On his decease, in the above year, he left the estate, by will, between his sons, Thomas and Joseph. In 1819, they divided it, Thomas taking the hall, and lands thereto appertaining, which he held until his decease in 1846, when he disposed of it, by will, to his son, the present owner, the Rev. Thomas Parkinson, now Vicar of Clare, in the county. of Suffolk. One peculiarity in the bequests dividing the estate is the division of the ovenhouse; by which both parties had an equal right to the use of that necessary article of household economy-the large brick oven, in which the family bread was baked. How enviable appears the lot of those substantial yeomen! well provided with all the conveniences of life, closing their eyes in death on the same spot in which they first opened them at birth, and then their bones were laid beside those of their fathers in the quiet village churchyard. The huge grey crag which gave name to the hall and adjacent homesteads, still peers out of the steep hill side, close to the road leading to Fewston, At Busky Dike, a place between Cragg Hall and Fewston, according to the report of tradition, there once existed a Druidical altar; and the same venerable authority declares that the same place is the haunt of a "Barguest;" and many of the country people yet tremble as they pass that place in the dark, for fear they should meet that strange and terrible beast. The well known and pleasantly situated Hopper Lane Hotel is situate on the right of the road leading from Knaresborough to Skipton. It has been kept for two generations by the family of Ward, previous to whose coming it was a small roadside inn, kept by a person named Tiplady. In 1775, Thomas Ward came to reside here. He afterwards purchased the premises, and built the present house. On his decease, in 1823, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Thomas Ward, the present owner. The family of Ward is of considerable antiquity in this parish. Previous to their coming here they resided at Fewston, and before their residence there, they were settled at Great Timble for many generations. Hardisty Hill is another hamlet in this parish, overlooking the valley of the Washburn. It is said to have derived its name from the family of Hardisty, which settled here, and by whom the lands around were owned for many generations. They formed alliances with the Wardmans, Wards, and other respectable families in the neighbourhood. William Hardisty, of Hardisty Hill, yeoman, married Mary, daughter of William Wardman, of Blubberhouses Hall, by whom he had, besides three sons who died in infancy, one son named Joseph, who died before his father, unmarried, and three daughters Anne, married to Thomas Metcalfe, of Leeming Stile, who died in 1841. Hannah, married to Thomas Skaife, of Braisty Woods, by whom, among other issue, she had a son named Joseph, who married Elizabeth Davies, of York, by whom he had one son Robert Hardisty Skaife, one of the most pains taking of antiquaries and geneaologists; and Susanna, married to Jonathan Ward, who became in consequence owner of the estate here, sometimes called Hardisty Hall. He sold part of the estate to Messrs. Colbeck, Ellis, Wilks, and Co., on which the large manufactory at Westhouses was built. He died July 28th, 1834, aged 80. Here is a small Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, built in 1841, which will accommodate about one hundred hearers. Westhouses is the name of a hamlet and large manufactory situate close to the river Washburn, where it is crossed by the Knaresborough and Skipton turnpike road. The manufactory was first erected for the spinning of flax, by Messrs. Colbeck, Ellis, Wilks, and Company, about the year 1806. The land was purchased from Jonathan Ward, of Hardisty Hill, being part of the estate which he had received with his wife, Susanna, daughter of William Hardisty. At that time it was a scene of active industry on a large scale-both manufacturing and agricultural. Large quantities of waste land were enclosed, cultivated, and ornamented with plantations in suitable places; many new buildings were erected for the accommodation of the work people; and the number of apprentices employed in the works, and maintained on the premises, was frequently upwards of two hundred. Two enormous water wheels gave motion to the long lines of machinery; and a more busy, bustling, apparently prosperous place, was not easily to be *This system was the means of introducing great numbers of poor people, who obtained settlements; and on the failure of the firm, 1,400 of them became chargeable to the township of Fewston. found. The day of misfortune came; the establishment was broken up; the work people dispersed; and the huge water wheels and long lines of polished machinery became still; and silence for some years settled over the busy scene. Not having the facilties of railway transit, it is not likely to ever resume its former importance. The spinning of silk was afterwards substituted for that of flax, by Messrs. Crowther. This mill and all its water rights has recently been purchased by the Corporation of Leeds, in furtherance of their scheme for supplying that town with water from the valley of the Washburn. The population in 1801 was 526; in 1811, 823; in 1821, 610; in 1831, 683; in 1841, -; in 1851, 399; and in 1861, 496. The annual value of this township as assessed to the county rate in 1849 was £1,469; and in 1859, £2,174. The amount assessed to income tax in 1858 was £2,398. GREAT TIMBLE. THIS township is bounded on the north and north-east by Little Timble; on the south-east and south by Weston and Denton; and on the west by Blubberhouses. The whole area is 1,566 acres. At the time of the Domesday survey this place was in the hands of the king, but no quantity or value is given. Forming a part of the Forest of Knaresborough, it always passed along with that fee. In 1299, we find it called Timble Percy; and also in 1302, when, in the enumeration of the knights' fees in Yorkshire, it is stated that the king held Tymble Percy for the eighth part and the sixteenth part of one fee.* The family of Hardisty appears to have settled here in very early times, as in the Poll Tax Roll, 2nd Richard II. (1878-9), we find in Villa de Tymble, Knaresborough Liberty, "Johannes de Hardolfsty, iiijd.," and "Stephanus de Hardolfsty, iiijd.." Again, in the Subsidy Roll, 40th Eliz. (1597-8), occurs, under Tymble-cum-Fuyston, "Stephanus Hardistie, in terris, xx3. iiijd. " The name is now extinct here, though found abundantly in other parts of the forest. The village is situate on high ground, from 720 to 750 feet above the sea level, and consists of a cluster of good substantial farm-houses and cottages, well sheltered by lines of sycamores. "Surtees' Soc.," p. 211, 1866. |