Thirsk (St. Mary)

THIRSK (St. Mary), a borough, market-town, and parish, and the head of a union, in the wapentake of Birdforth, N. riding of York; the parish containing, with the chapelries of Carlton-Miniott, Sand-Hutton, and Sowerby, 4599 inhabitants, of whom 3020 are in the town, 23 miles (N. W. by N.) from York, and 223 (N. N. W.) from London. The name of this place is supposed to be derived from Tre Isk, two ancient British words signifying a town and river or brook. A strong castle was erected here about 979 by the family of Mowbray, where Roger de Mowbray in the time of Henry II., having become a confederate of the King of Scotland, erected his standard against his lawful sovereign: upon the suppression of the revolt, this fortress, with many others, was entirely demolished by order of the king. In the reign of Henry VII., during a popular commotion, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and lieutenant of this county, is said to have been put to death here, beneath a very ancient elm-tree, which formerly grew on Elm Green.

The town is situated on the road from York to Darlington, nearly in the centre of the vale of Mowbray, a tract remarkable for its fertility, and the beauty and richness of its scenery. It consists of the Old and the New towns, separated by a small stream called Cod beck, over which are two substantial stone bridges. A gravel-walk across the fields to Sowerby commands a fine prospect of the surrounding country, terminated by the Hambleton hills; it is the favourite promenade of the inhabitants. At the south-western extremity of the town, the moat and rampart, together with some subterranean vaults, and the site of the court-yard, of the castle, may still be seen. Within the precincts of this ancient fortress is New Thirsk, with its spacious marketplace in the centre. The Old town, which alone was included in the former borough, is on the north-east bank of the stream, and consists of a long range of cottages on each side of the York and Stockton road, and two squares surrounded by similar buildings, one called St. James's Green, where the cattle-fairs are held, the other formerly comprising a chapel dedicated to St. James. A small quantity of coarse linen and sacking is manufactured. The York and Newcastle railway runs near the town: an act was passed in 1845 for making a line from Thirsk, by Harrogate, to Leeds; another act, in 1846, for a line to Malton; and a third, also in 1846, for a line to the Lancaster and Carlisle railway near Penrith.

The market is on Monday, and is a large market for provisions, of which great quantities purchased here are carried for sale to Leeds and other places. Fairs are held on Shrove-Monday and April 4th and 5th, for cattle, sheep, leather, &c.; on Easter-Monday and Whit-Monday, for woollen-cloth, toys, &c.; and August 4th and 5th, October 28th and 29th, and the first Tuesday after Dec. 11th, for cattle, sheep, and leather. The municipal regulations are vested in a bailiff, chosen by the burgage-holders, and sworn in before the steward of the manor, who holds a court leet at Michaelmas for that and other purposes. The powers of the county debt-court of Thirsk, established in 1847, extend over the registration-district of Thirsk. This is a borough by prescription, and first sent members to parliament in the 23rd of Edward I., but made no other return till the last parliament of Edward VI.; under the act 2nd of William IV., cap. 45, it now sends one member, elected by the £10 householders of an enlarged district comprising 8570 acres: the bailiff is returning officer. The parish contains 3100a. 3r. 26p., of which about 1818 acres are arable, 1153 pasture, and 61 woodland and common. The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £137; patron and appropriator, the Archbishop of York. The church, situated at the northern extremity of the New town, is a spacious and handsome structure in the later English style, with a lofty embattled tower at the west end: it is supposed to have been constructed from the ruins of the castle. Each of the three chapelries forms a separate incumbency. There are places of worship for the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyans. The union of Thirsk comprises 40 parishes or places, and contains a population of 12,639.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.