According to the compotus of Bolton Abbey, in 1324, the lands in Wython paid the sum of £4 6s., and the land at Westecoch (Wescoe Hill), in Wython, paid 68.

In the 45th of Edward III. (1372), the king committed to the custody of Richard de Rymington, one messuage and one carucate of land with the appurtenances, in Wytheton and Westcogh, in the county of York, which formerly belonged to Laurence Franke, of Wytheton, near Harewood.

Thomas, son of Henry de Scriven, gave to the nuns of Arthington, that land called Paynescroft, in Wytheton, lying near the road to Rigton.

In 1504, Sir Robert Plumpton had lands in Weeton and Huby, which he had purchased; and upon which lands there was a charge for the jointure settled on Isabella, daughter of Ralph, lord Neville, second wife of Sir Robert Plumpton, in 1505. Since the year 1721 the greatest part of the land in Weeton has been held by the family of Lascelles, Earls of Harewood.

The church, dedicated to St. Barnabas, was built and endowed at the cost of the late Earl of Harewood. The foundation stone was laid on the 3rd of April, 1851, by the Bishop of Ripon; and the finished fabric was consecrated by the same prelate, October 12th, 1852. It is a beautiful specimen of the early English style of architecture, from designs by George Gilbert Scott, Esq., of London. It consists of a nave and chancel, between which, from a kind of transept, rises a large square tower, surmounted by a lofty octagonal spire, containing three bells.

The burial ground is large, and kept in the neatest order. The living is a perpetual curacy, worth £100 per annum, in the gift of the Earls of Harewood.

The first incumbent was the Rev. James Palmes, B.A.; on whose resignation the Rev. T. H. Fearon was appointed, Nov.

U

14th, 1866; on whose decease the Rev. Christopher Wybergh succeeded, August 15th, 1867.

The parsonage, a large and elegant mansion in the Elizabethan style of architecture, near the church, was erected in 1853.

The schools and teacher's residence in the village were built in 1856, all at the cost of the Earl of Harewood.

The district, or parish, consists of the townships of Weeton and Dunkeswick, being that portion of the parish of Harewood situate on the north side of the river Wharfe.

The benefactions left to the poor of Weeton are-one close of ground, called Wescho-hill Close, lying at Wescho Hill, left by William Wade, in 1722; lets at £5 per annum.

To the poor of Weeton and Dunkeswick, the sum of 20s., to be paid yearly out of the estate of Mr. Robert Midgeley, lying at Weeton.

To the poor of the parish of Harewood, two closes of ground called Foxglove Close, and Straike-foot Ing, lying at Weeton; left by Anthony Sawdrie, parish clerk, in 1631. Also an allotment for the same, situate at Huby; the yearly rent to be used for putting out a boy or girl apprentice yearly within. the parish of Harewood. This charity is so apportioned that every sixth year it belongs to Dunkeswick, and every ninth year to Weeton. None are to have the benefit but such as are born in wedlock, whose parents are inhabitants within the parish of Harewood. If within the space of ten years there should be no proper object within the said places, the money to be laid out in gray cloth, and given to the poorest there.

To the poor of Weeton, a house and garth at Huby, left by Thomas Harrison, of Stubhouse, which let for £8 a-year.

A legacy of £200 was left to the poor of this township, in 1851, by Lester Brand, Esq.; the interest to be distributed on the donor's birthday.

The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, a large substantial building of stone, was built in the year 1796.

The village of Weeton is ranged east and west along the sides of a narrow road, and presents nothing deserving of particular remark.

A station on the Leeds northern branch of the North Eastern Railway, about half a mile west of the village, gives the inhabitants the opportunities of travel when they think proper to use them.

Wescoe Hill is a round-backed mount, composed of a mass of clay and shale, to the westward of Weeton. The railway passes completely through it, partly by a short tunnel, and partly by deep and wide cuttings on either side.

*

The name is evidently of great antiquity, probably of Norwegian derivation, and is met with in very early documents. It also supplied a surname to a family, of whom the service of Henry de Westcoght was given, with the mill of Castley, by William de Castelai, to the monks of Fountains Abbey. The monks of Bolton had lands upon this hill. Two or three pleasantly situated farmsteads are now seated upon it.

Huby is a cluster of small farm-houses, and small antique straw-thatched cottages, with a small Methodist Chapel, situate on the slope of a hill, a short distance west of the railway station.

Roger, son of Alexander de Huby, gave to the monks of Fountains Abbey one oxgang of land, with a toft and croft here.

* In this and in the adjoining hill, called Riffa, or Riff-how, we think we perceive, but slightly concealed, two of the Norwegian Hoes. The word "hill" is superfluous, and has been added by another people.

+ This is evidently the by or homestead of Hugh, a Danish settler; as Newby is merely the new farmstead or home.

"Burton's Mon. Ebor."

Newby, which close adjoins, consists of two or three farmsteads belonging to the Earl of Harewood.

The township contains 1,376 acres of land of variable quality. The population in 1801 was 237; in 1811, 297; in 1821, 310; in 1831, 322; and in 1851, only 300. The annual value as assessed to the county rate in 1849 was £1,846; as assessed to the property tax in 1858, £2,149; and to the poor-rate in 1859, £2,263.

CASTLEY.

CASTLEY is a village and small township in the parish of Leathley. On the south it adjoins the river Wharfe, which, with an extensive curve, embraces it almost on three sides; the other adjoins to Leathley and Weeton. This township forms the south-western angle of the Forest of Knaresborough.

At the time of the Domesday survey (1086) it was in the hands of the king, and is thus entered—

"In Castlelai, Elwin had one carucate to be taxed, and Berne and Elflet had one carucate to be taxed. Land to two ploughs. Ebrard, a vassal of William de Percy, farms. it, but William does not vouch for him. Value in King shillings; at present sixteen pence.t Afterwards it was held by a family to which it gave a surname, many members of whom were benefactors to the

Edward's time

The name is evidently derived from some castra, castle, or camp of the Romans, and ley, a field-that is the castle field. Within a very limited space around this village, we have evidence, in the names of places, of the different nationalities which have occupied or peopled the country. In Castley, we have Roman and Saxon; in Huby and Newby, we have Danish; in Weschoe and Riffoe, Norwegian.

+ "Bawdwen's Dom. Boc.," p. 37.

At the time of Kirkby's Inquest (1284) "Castelley" was held by Richard de Goldsburgh and William de Castley, as the fourth part of a knight's fee, of the heirs of Percy, and the same heirs held it of the king, in capite.-Kirkby's Inquest, Surtees' Soc., p. 45.

In the list of knights' fees, 31st of Edward I., here was one carucate of land of the fee of Percy, where fourteen carucates make a fee.—Ibid, p. 203. To the aid for marrying the same king's daughter Castley contributed 2s. 101d.-Ibid, p. 293.