There is no known evidence linking this Swindale with the Swindale/swindle/swindell
surname despite P.H. Reaney making that association in his Dictionary of
English Surnames. Swindale Farm is a stonebuilt house of apparently 18th or
19th century construction but may well have much earlier origins.
(I once lived in a very similar house myself where the farm
dated back to at least the 14th century AJS). In 1792 Robert
Porrit bequeathed Swindale to his son, also known as Robert.1.
The placename, Swindale, goes back to at least 12715 - the era of
surname formation - but there is no evidence of habitation before the 18th
century enclosures.
White's Directory of 1840 notes "The poor of Moorsholm and Stanghow
have four acres of land in the former township, called Swindale, left by
Robert Barwick, and now worth about £2 10s. per annum, thouigh the family
who hold it have usually paid only 30s. per year." (I think this means
the township of Morrsholm and Stanghow).
The closest
connection is
John Swindell in 1605 in Sutton near Thirsk some 40km to the
south-east.
Links
Information about the parish of Skelton from
Bulmer's 1890 History and Directory of the North Riding.
This aerial photo cannot be published for reasons of copyright but can be
viewed by entering 'Moorsholm' in
www.old-maps.co.uk and then selecting 'aerial photo'). Notes 1
Will of Robert Porrit, Skelton, Yorks, Yeoman
2 The 'Plan of the High and Low Moors in the
Township of Great Moorsholm in Cleveland, Made in 1821 by R. Otley' (Northallerton
Record Office Reference ZPF frame 280) shows Swindale (unnamed) as part of 'Kilton
Inclosure' from Kilton Common rather than 'Ancient Inclosures in Great
Moorsholm'. I have not yet traced any record of the Kilton Inclosures. The
1856 map shows it as a detached part of Kilton Parish. I have seen a
reference indicating that Kilton Parish ceased to exist in 1868. 3
The 1856 map shows the uppermost reaches of the Swindale Beck as Swinsow
Dale (leading down to Oven Close). 4 There appear
to be no references to Swindale / Swindell / Swindle in the whole of the
Hearth Tax register for Yorkshire 1672/3 (as transcribed by the Ripon
Historical Society).
5 He [Peter de Brus] was made constable of Scarborough
Castle; and departing this life 14 Kal. October, anno 1271 (55 Hen. III.)
without issue, left his four sisters his heirs: viz, the wife of Walter de
Fauconberg, who had for her share the castle of Skelton and Manor of Merske
(Marske), Up lethum (Upleatham), Westby, and Eastburne ;
Lucia, the wife of
Marmaduke de Thweng, who had the lordships of Danby, Bretton (Brotton),
Yarum (Yarm), and Kirkeburne, as also the town of Great Moresdon, with
the common and chase of Wauer, viz. Swindale, Laharenes, and other dales, as
the roadway extendeth from Lardthorne to Skelton by Scortbeck, between
Katerig and Strangewig, &c.; Margaret, the wife of Robert de Ros, who had
all Kendall ; and Laderina, the wife of John de Bellew, who had for her
share the lordships of Coulton in Balne, Kalmesworth, Thorpe Arches,
Tithethorpe, and certain yard lands in Sethbarne.
The History and Antiquities of Cleveland: Comprising
the Wapentake of East and West Langbargh: p595 from Dugdale's Baronage. By
John Walker Ord 1972
Daneby manor with the forest.
Lelhom and Wolvedale.
Manselinges with the farm of Thomas de Wolvedale.
Brocton manor and Skinergrive, and the boats of Skinergrive, rents, &c.
Jarum with the rents and fishery.
Great Morsom, with rents, &c. of freemen and others.
The forest of the chace of the dales, viz.—Swindale
and Le Havenes and other dales as the high way extends from Lardethorn to
Scelton by Skaytebec, between Katerig and Stangho, and so as far as the wood
of Liverton.
Kirkebrun manor and Suthbrune with the mills, &c. excepting lands and rents
assigned to John de Bella Aqua and La dereyne his wife.
A fourth part of wreck of sea, as above, with moieties of the advowson of
Giseburn priory, and of the bailiwick of Langeberewe.
Memorandum. On the first vacation the prior will be presented by Sir Walter
de Facunberg or his heirs, and on the next by Sir Marmaduke, and so on
alternately to the end of the world.
The part of Walter de Facunberg and Agnes his wife (undated).
From: 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry III, File 41', Calendar of
Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 1: Henry III (1904), pp. 261-273. URL:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=108037&strquery=Swindale
Date accessed: 21 September 2009.
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