A History of Stillington & District
A historically significant village just a few miles North of York. Stillington is a village with many stories to tell and here we tell some of them
About Stillington
The village of Stillington is located in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. Approximately 10 miles (16 kilometres) north of York, it is located on the York to Helmsley road.
The village is listed in the Domesday Book as Stivelincton in the Bulford hundred. During the Norman invasion, the manor was held by the Archbishop of York St Peter, and remained in his possession thereafter.[2] The church held the land until 1616, when it was leased to William Ramsden. A lease was then granted to Christopher Croft in 1625. During the first year of the Commonwealth, many church lands were offered for sale, and Croft purchased the manor outright. When many church lands were being reclaimed after the Restoration, Christopher Croft, son of the former, sought a grant from the church for the manor. At the time, he was the Lord Mayor of York and was knighted shortly thereafter. Crofts held the manor until 1895, when it was sold.
Named after a local Saxon settler, Styfel, and the Old English word tun, meaning farm. Accordingly, it refers to the farm of Styfel as a whole.
January 2025 – Church Bells to ring again
You may not have noticed but… A couple of weeks ago the renovated bells at St Nicholas were returned from Loughborough and fitted and, after a three-year period of silence they are ringing again.
Many in the village may not be aware of the return as the travelling of the sound of the peeling bells is dependent upon both the direction of the wind and its strength. But, we do ask those that can hear them to be patient, of two reasons: firstly, our normal ringers have had a three year lay-off and, like the former state of the bells are a little “rusty, the feel of the bells is also quite different.” Secondly, we are hoping to train some new ringers to join the team and it’s difficult to do that quietly!
The sounds of training can be a little bit discordant. Please be patient.
It is great to have the bells back and working as they have, after all, been a feature of the village for literally hundreds of years. There return also means the church clock has its chime back. We just have to get it showing at the right time!
Article originally written by JC and published by news@stillingtonvillage.org
Books About The History of Stillington & The Surrounding Area
A resident for some 40 years, Grahame Richardson has dedicated his later years to documenting the history of Stillington and the surrounding district. Grahame has researched the history of the area and written books on the subject.
A ‘Peculiar’ Parish, The History of Stillington – Vol. 1
Having always been interested in history, I began in 1992 to collate articles of interest on the village of Stillington. Now some 26 years later I have put most, but by no means all, into book form.
The History of the Croft Family of Stillington
Discover the Croft Family in our books about the history of the Crofts and also about the family in Massachusetts USA.
Marton Priory & Moxby Nunnery by Barry Fewster
Wirtten by Barry Fewster in November 2009, a fascinating book about Marton Priory & Moxby Nunnery
Stillington in the Duchy of Lancaster Records
The Boundary between Easingwold & Stillington from the Duchy of Lancaster records of 30th August 1617
The history of St Nicholas Church in Stillington
Discover the history of the Church of St Nicholas in Stillington in the Grahame Richardson book about the church.
John Hall Books
John Hall was born in Stillington, on 13th December 1751. He was known as a bookkeeper, trader, mathematician and ship owner. Read his fascinating story in our book of his life.
Tithes and Inclosure of Lands at Stillington
Before the dissolution of the Monasteries tithes were payable by the parishioners for the support of their parish church and its clergy
Stillington Hall Massachusetts USA
Caroline Croft (born 1858 in Bunbury, Nantwich, Cheshire) was the grand-daughter of Admiral William Croft (1782-1872). She married Charles Buswell (born 1844) in 1881 and they had three children.
Do you have a question about Stillington?
Do you have a question about the history of Stillington? Maybe a question about your family history or the history of the village?
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