A trace of the Medieval past of Lonsdale through its field names

Lonsdale, also spelled as ‘Lounsdale‘ in some sources, is believed to have derived its name from an old Scandinavian personal name, possibly ‘Lothaen.’¹‘Lonsdale :: Survey of English Place-Names’. 2023. Nottingham.ac.uk <http://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/id/53286b0ab47fc40bc600010c> [accessed 2 May 2023] In a founding charter of Guisborough Priory, Lonsdale was referred to as Golstandale, with the Priory’s lands ‘by Percy Crosse, extending toward the south as far as Golstandale.‘²‘Parishes: Kildale | British History Online’. 2023. British-History.ac.uk <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol2/pp249-253#fnn5> [accessed 2 May 2023] In addition, the priors had common of pasture in Kildale, from which the ‘wood of Golsendale,’ the park of the lords of the manor of Kildale, and the wood of ‘Heynning‘ were excepted.³‘Parishes: Kildale | British History Online’. 2023. British-History.ac.uk <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol2/pp249-253#p3> [accessed 2 May 2023]

Nowadays, Lonsdale is a small valley that is an offshoot of Kildale, drained by the River Leven. Before glacial disruption, both the Leven and Lonsdale Beck were thought to have been tributaries of the River Esk⁴Mitchell, Peter K. (1965) West Cleveland land use, circa 1550 to 1850, Page 192, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/7973/. The primary farmstead in Lonsdale is Lonsdale Farm, which can be seen on the right-hand side in the photo.

In 1806, the manor of Kildale was sold to Robert Bell Livesey of Thirsk, and Lonsdale Farm was among the farms included in the sale⁵‘Parishes: Kildale | British History Online’. 2023. British-History.ac.uk <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol2/pp249-253#p17> [accessed 2 May 2023]> [accessed 2 May 2023]. At that time, it was occupied by Andrew Brown, who was a ‘Tenant at Will,‘ and had a total area of 197 acres⁶Anthony, Cedric. “Glimpses of Kildale History”. Pages 169/188. Geni Printing. 2012.. He paid an annual rent of £65. It was one of the smaller farms, and its improved land had to be intensively worked, with around two-thirds being arable, mainly oats and seeds. This was done to provide fodder for the moor sheep during the worst of winter weather, as well as lambing and tupping⁷Mitchell, Peter K. (1965) West Cleveland land use, circa 1550 to 1850, Page 500, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/7973/.

Two of the field names of Lonsdale Farm are West and East Gousingdale, which are similar to the Medieval ‘Golstandale.’ So similar that it must be presumed that they refer to the same place. These fields now appear as the nearest one in the photo.

• 1
  ‘Lonsdale :: Survey of English Place-Names’. 2023. Nottingham.ac.uk <http://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/id/53286b0ab47fc40bc600010c> [accessed 2 May 2023]
• 2
  ‘Parishes: Kildale | British History Online’. 2023. British-History.ac.uk <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol2/pp249-253#fnn5> [accessed 2 May 2023]
• 3
  ‘Parishes: Kildale | British History Online’. 2023. British-History.ac.uk <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol2/pp249-253#p3> [accessed 2 May 2023]
• 4
  Mitchell, Peter K. (1965) West Cleveland land use, circa 1550 to 1850, Page 192, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/7973/
• 5
  ‘Parishes: Kildale | British History Online’. 2023. British-History.ac.uk <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol2/pp249-253#p17> [accessed 2 May 2023]> [accessed 2 May 2023]
• 6
  Anthony, Cedric. “Glimpses of Kildale History”. Pages 169/188. Geni Printing. 2012.
• 7
  Mitchell, Peter K. (1965) West Cleveland land use, circa 1550 to 1850, Page 500, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/7973/