Sherburn In Elmet, Yorkshire, England. Geographical and Historical information from 1829.

SHERBURN IN ELMET:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1829.

"SHERBURN IN ELMET, is a small market-town, in the parish of its name, in the wapentake of Barkston-Ash, west riding, 184 miles from London, 15 from York, 13 from Leeds and 9 from Pontefract; situated on the direct road from Tadcaster to Ferrybridge, and is 6 miles distant from either place. The church here, dedicated to All Saints, is a handsome and spacious structure; the nave of the church exhibits a beautiful specimen of architecture, at once rare and magnificent. This edifice is said to have been erected out of the ruins of the palace which formerly existed here in the time of King Athelstan; the living is a vicarage, in the gift of the prebendary of Fenton, in York cathedral; the Rev. Samuel Wasse is the present officiating minister, and also master of the free grammar school, founded in 1619, by Robert Hungate, Esq. The farmers in the neighbourhood of Sherburn largely concerned in the cultivation of flax, for which the land is well adapted. Teazle is also grown in this part of the country, and forms a material article of trade here. Very fine stone is obtained from a quarry about a mile and a half from the town; and upon a piece of water, called Bishop Dyke, are several corn mills. The vicinity of the town is famed for fine orchards, and the country generally is well cultivated and fertile. The market-day, which is now very little noticed as such, is on Friday; and the annual fair is held on the 25th of September. The population of Sherburn, according to the census for 1821, was 1,144."

[Transcribed from Pigot's National Commericial Directory for 1828-29 ]
by Colin Hinson ©2007