Lingcote End

An unfamiliar view of the lower portion of Westerdale, taken whilst being buffeted by Storm Malik, the latest of this winter’s storm.

I am on what is named as Grange Bank on the old O.S. map descending into the dale after a slog over Baysdale Moor¹Maps.nls.uk. (2022). View map: Yorkshire 44 (includes: Danby; Glaisdale.) – Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952. [online] Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/102344296#zoom=6&lat=9125&lon=1238&layers=BT [Accessed 29 Jan. 2022]..

The photo gives a good overview of the medieval settlement area known as Lingcote End.

It may be hard to appreciate as we speed through the modern village on the way up to Rosedale Head but Westerdale is known as a polyfocal settlement. That is, there are several distinct settlement clusters of dispersed farmsteads.

One of these was Lingcote End, a name recorded in a 1539 charter but probably older²NYMNPA HER Record 18702.. The first element of the name probably refers to a cottage in the heather, whilst the ‘End‘ is a settlement. The name is not on modern O.S. maps but ‘Lingcote End Gate’ is named on the 1952 6″ edition³Maps.nls.uk. (2022). View map: Yorkshire XLIV.NW (includes: Danby; Westerdale.) – Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952. [online] Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/100942448#zoom=4&lat=5991&lon=2119&layers=BT [Accessed 29 Jan. 2022]..

The nearest farm, on the right, is Grange Farm, thought to have been the grange of Baysdale Abbey.

Next, continuing right to left on a contour, is Hawthorn House⁴NYMNPA HER Records 10695/6.. This was named as ‘Hawthorn Hurste‘ in 1539. Next is Stocking House, recorded as a close ‘Stockynge‘ in the charter. Finally there is Crown House, almost hidden by trees.

The four farms occupy a bowl facing south-east, so catching the morning sun but sheltered from the prevailing south-westerlies. It was certainly sheltered as I made my way back into Baysdale along the modern Public Bridleway which links the farms.

Main source: Wilson, Carol M. “Westerdale: the origins and development of a medieval settlement”. ISBN 978-0-9565779-2-4 2013.

• 1
  Maps.nls.uk. (2022). View map: Yorkshire 44 (includes: Danby; Glaisdale.) – Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952. [online] Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/102344296#zoom=6&lat=9125&lon=1238&layers=BT [Accessed 29 Jan. 2022].
• 2
  NYMNPA HER Record 18702.
• 3
  Maps.nls.uk. (2022). View map: Yorkshire XLIV.NW (includes: Danby; Westerdale.) – Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952. [online] Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/100942448#zoom=4&lat=5991&lon=2119&layers=BT [Accessed 29 Jan. 2022].
• 4
  NYMNPA HER Records 10695/6.