Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Two villages: “Cherchbi” and “Broctune Magna”

It’s been a windy day on Cringle Moor, but the sky has been clear. The moving clouds created a beautiful display of shadows over the vale of Cleveland. I could see below me the villages of Kirkby-in-Cleveland and Great Broughton, both of which were mentioned in the Domesday Book. Kirkby-in-Cleveland was referred to as “Cherchbi” while Great Broughton was “Broctune Magna“. Interestingly, both villages appeared under the same entry in the Book1Cook, Hugh W. ‘Kirkby-in-Cleveland got its name from ancient church’ | Cleveland Standard | Friday 23 September 1949 | British Newspaper Archive. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003490/19490923/018/0002> [accessed 12 April 2023].

Kirkby has a Saxon origin and was named after an old church dedicated to St. Augustin, which explains the name. However, since Kirkby is a very common name, it had to have a suffix to differentiate it from other places with the same name. During the Conqueror’s survey, it was included under the “soke” or district of Stokesley. The manor was assessed at 20 shillings and taxed accordingly2Cook, Hugh W. ‘Kirkby-in-Cleveland got its name from ancient church’ | Cleveland Standard | Friday 23 September 1949 | British Newspaper Archive. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003490/19490923/018/0002> [accessed 12 April 2023].

Around 1080, Yorkshire’s population was estimated to be approximately 40,000. During this time, William the Conqueror held 350 manors in Yorkshire, and with his “First Favourites,” held all the manors that were considered valuable.

For Kirkby, these were the Baliols who were the founders of Barnard Castle. One of the notable members of this family was Bernard de Baliol, who earned great recognition for his efforts in the Battle of the Standard, which took place near Northallerton in 1136. However, he was unfortunately captured and became a prisoner six years later in the Battle of Lincoln3Cook, Hugh W. ‘Kirkby-in-Cleveland got its name from ancient church’ | Cleveland Standard | Friday 23 September 1949 | British Newspaper Archive. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003490/19490923/018/0002> [accessed 12 April 2023].

The Kirby Manor was passed down by marriage to the Eures, a reputable family in the North whose chief seat was at Witton-le-Wear in Durham County. The Eures held onto their lordships of Kirby, Ingleby Greenhow, and Broughton until the last Eure passed away without issue. The manor and estate then changed hands through multiple families until it finally became the property of the Emmersons4Cook, Hugh W. ‘Kirkby-in-Cleveland got its name from ancient church’ | Cleveland Standard | Friday 23 September 1949 | British Newspaper Archive. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003490/19490923/018/0002> [accessed 12 April 2023].

Although Little Kirkby was likely concealed in the forests of Cleveland from the time of the Norman survey to the 17th century, it was noticed by those who gave donations to religious institutions.

The Knights of the Temple were established in 1119 and owned lands in Kirkby and Great Broughton. During an early period, Thomas Wayne of Angrove Hall donated some pasture and arable lands, along with two religious houses, to “Kherchbi.” The monks of Rievaulx, Whitby, and Guisborough all held extensive lands. In the fourteenth century, Simon de “Kherchbye” gave some land to Guisborough Priory to “supporte a lyght atte ye greate altarr off Gysburn.“5Cook, Hugh W. ‘Kirkby-in-Cleveland got its name from ancient church’ | Cleveland Standard | Friday 23 September 1949 | British Newspaper Archive. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003490/19490923/018/0002> [accessed 12 April 2023]

In 1151, Adam de Ingleby “confirmed to God, St. Peter and St. Hylda offe Wyteby to ye world’s ende as a free ande perpetuall alms ye churche offe Kirchaby ande whatever pertains thereto.” He gave the church to Whitby Abbey.6Cook, Hugh W. ‘Kirkby-in-Cleveland got its name from ancient church’ | Cleveland Standard | Friday 23 September 1949 | British Newspaper Archive. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003490/19490923/018/0002> [accessed 12 April 2023]

Great Broughton, a picturesque village, is believed to have been a Roman settlement, although its origins are unclear. However, it is highly likely that the village was fortified during the early Saxon period7Cook, Hugh W. ‘ROMAN TRACES IN CLEVELAND | Cleveland Standard | Friday 07 October 1949 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003490/19491007/107/0002?browse=true> [accessed 12 April 2023].

During the reign of Edward I, the Manor of Broughton Magna was owned by Nicholas de Meinell, the Lord of Whorlton. He also held lands from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and as part of his service, he acted as the “pantler” or butler during the Archbishop’s enthronement feast. Eventually, the Eures took over the ownership of the manor. Bolton Abbey also had land in the area, and it’s likely that Chapel Garth was a part of the Abbey’s land and may have had a chapel or monastic cell on the site8Cook, Hugh W. ‘ROMAN TRACES IN CLEVELAND | Cleveland Standard | Friday 07 October 1949 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003490/19491007/107/0002?browse=true> [accessed 12 April 2023].

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