BARWICK-IN-ELMET
CHURCH.
BACK TO CATALOGUE
PREFACE |
| For thirty years and more, and long
before I acquired any knowledge on the subject, the very
name of Elmet seemed to have something magnetic in its
sound. And in due time it became incumbent upon me to put
into book form the ideas and information which I had
gained. The story of the Kingdom has been gradually
acquired, and the structure . built up little by little,
after long study and repeated visits to the district
extending over several years, and the gathering and
piecing together of the fragmentary shreds of history.
This knowledge cannot be obtained from books, for the
best authorities on "North-Humberland History"
give only vague references to this old principality. From
Bede's time (our first authority) nearly every writer on
the subject has trodden in his predecessor's footsteps,
without attempting to pierce the veil of mystery and `
silence overshadowing Elmet. I admit the scantiness of
the material to be relied upon with absolute certainty;
yet the theme is one of absorbing interest, and
particularly so to those dwelling in Elmet. - In its
nomenclature, revealed in the names of its towns, rivers,
hills, and prominent crags, still lingers the memory of a
people-the Celts-whose kingdom was Elmet. Centuries
before any historic record, the wolds of Elmet and the
district around the lower reaches of the rivers Aire,
Wharfe, and Nidd were the stronghold of a dominant or
ruling class. The author is painfully conscious of his
shortcomings in regard to the work, and is also aware
that the subject, as portrayed . in the following page's,
is not in any way complete. Probably it will be the means
of destroying a fallacy which I have repeatedly heard
expressed, namely, that all the historic records
concerning the Kingdom of Elmet could be told on a sheet
of notepaper. I trust some abler pen will continue the
work of restoring Elmet to its position and dignity in
history-an independent state which retained its integrity
long after others had fallen under the iron heel of the
invader. I hope the critic will pardon what he may .
consider the overfluent description and occasional `
abandon' to be found scattered through the pages of the
book-purely a labour of love-the outcome of that sense of
joyfulness and freedom from restraint which is peculiar
to the heart of a born rambler. I am greatly indebted to the following gentlemen :-To G. T. Lowe for his kindness in providing maps and plans, specially drawn by him for this work ; to Dr. Arnold lees for his chapter on the Wild F lowers of Elmet, etc. ; to William Wheater for his valuable notes and suggestions on the subject; to John Hamilton, Charles Richardson, and Rudolph Radestock, for many acts of kindness in the furtherance of the task to George Fowler Jones, F.R.I.B.A., for the use of several photographs; and to Sir Clement Markham's Histories of the Fairfaxes, for information concerning that family. EDMUND BOGG. |
CONTENTS |
| INTRODUCTION PREHISTORIC SKETCH - A GLANCE BACKWARD. CHAPTER I. THE BRIGANTES - THEIR KINGDOM AND CAPITAL. CHAPTER II. THE KINGDOM OF THE ROMANS. CHAPTER III. THE KINGDOM OF ELMET. CHAPTER IV. HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES, AND GENERAL SURVEY OF THE ELMET. CHAPTER V. LEEDS. TEMPLENEWSAM AND WHITKIRK. CHAPTER VI. THE VALLEY OF THE COCK. CHAPTER VII. AROUND BARWICK AND ABERFORD. CHAPTER VIII. ROUND ABOUT TOWTON AND SAXTON. CHAPTER IX. SHERBURN - IN - ELMET. CHAPTER X. CAWOOD. CHAPTER XI. RYTHER, ULLESKELF, AND GRIMSTON. WILD FLOWERS OF ELMET CHAPTER XII THE AINSTY OF YORK. CHAPTER XIII NUN APPLETON FOREST. CHAPTER XV. THE WALL OF YORK. CHAPTER XVI KNAVESMIRE. |
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BARWICK-IN-ELMET
CHURCH.
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