b'The Belthorpe Estates at Bishop WiltonDiana ForresterDiana Forrester is a member of the Bishopthorpe History Group which, like Bishop Wilton, belongs to Timeline York Plus, an informal association of historical and archaeological societies in the area of greater York. She kindly offered to share her findings with us.T homas Barlow built Middlethorpe Hall in 1702.to Matthew Alexander Eason Wilkinson, a doctor from His son Francis sought to expand his landManchester. Sadly Frances died in 1852. The estates holdings and bought the Yorkshire portion of thepassed to Matthew. He remarried in 1855 or 1856 to Whitmore Estates in 1718. These were the ManorsLouisa Walker and they had six children. The eldest of Ottringham, Bainton, Belthorpe and Dringhouses.son, George, inherited the estates in jointure with Ottringham, (S.E. of Hull), and Bainton (betweenLouisa in 1878 when he was 18 years old. George Market Weighton and Driffield) were later sold. Thedied in 1941. 1 have some letters from his eldest Manor of Dringhouses added to and was adjacent tosister Fanny (Frances) to her mother in 1882. They the Manor of Middlethorpe which they already ownedseem concerned about his abilities to cope with such and gave them a sizable piece of land and severala large inheritance and Fanny says that she thinks he properties to the east of the river Ouse, south of York.should get some training before he takes Belthorpe. In The Belthorpe Estate was made up of three farms1883 she writes again, It may be as well to warn you - High Belthorpe, Low Belthorpe and Rowland Hill.not to take everything as gospel truth what Geo. has Together their lands must have formed a broad strip todown in his note book. He suffers from a biased mind the south-west of Bishop Wilton.which sees everything through coloured glasses. He Bishopthorpe History Group was fortunate toseems to have turned out rather better than his sister be given a set of rental accounts for the Barlowthought, winning a DSO in 1901 in the South African properties. These date from 1828 but do not namewars, becoming an Inspector of Racecourses to the individual properties or tenants until the followingJockey Club, a JP, a decent landlord and a breeder of year. In 1829 the tenants at Belthorpe were Margaretprize pigs. He lived in Dringhouses until his death. Stephenson, John Tindale and Roger Whip whoseReferences:rents were 210, 60 and 100 respectively for aMiddlethorpe Hall, Yorkshire by Giles Worsley half year. These rents seem sizable and Margaret andreprinted from Country Life 12 Dec 1985. I got my John were not able to pay them in full. These rentalcopy from the reception desk at the Hall some years accounts continue almost uninterrupted until 1913.ago. It gives details of the Barlow Family and a history After that several years are missing and the last one Iof the Hall and its architecture. have is for 1928.The Drury Deeds at the Borthwick Institute at the Over the years considerable investment was putUniversity of York Library. There are 11 boxes of these. into the Belthorpe farms. In 1831 bills are given forIm still at box 1. They list the affairs of the Barlow, bricks, bricklaying and deal laths, to the BelthorpeLeigh and Wilkinson families from 1732 and contain farm amounting to 61.10s.6d. An entry of 1859legal documents for marriage settlements, mortgages, enabled me to find the Belthorpe farms, until thenpurchases and sales of land and properties and some I had no idea where to look. This entry has bills forwills. drainage tiles to J. Appleton of Pocklington and toRent Accounts for the Estates of Dringhouses, John Ellis of Bishop Wilton for palisading. TheseMiddlethorpe, Bishopthorpe and Belthorpe, half were allowances to Mr Fawcett at Belthorpe for workyearly,beginning 1828. These contain lists of rent and done. After 1879 the accounts contain actual receipts,tenants names and bills and receipts for work done called vouchers, for work done, often with attractivethere. Given to Bishopthorpe Local History Group by printed headings. It is not always clear which of theFrank Pym of Suffolk. farms had work done. There is a record of the sale ofCopies of letters between members of the Rowland Hill in 1921. I think the other two farms nowWilkinson family 1879-1894. Given to Bishopthorpe belong to the Halifax Estates and were probably soldLocal History Group by Avril Cocking of Huddersfield. on the death of George Wilkinson in 1941. Over the years the ownership of the Belthorpe Estates passed to two other families. The last descendant of Thomas Barlow was Frances who inherited the estates in jointure with her mother. She married twice. Firstly to the Rev. Edward Trafford Leigh in or about 1828 who had the living of Cheadle in Cheshire and died in 1847. Frances remarried in 1851 336 BULLETIN 17'