Ilton is a village in North Yorkshire, England, 3 miles south-west of Masham. It is the principal settlement in the civil parish of Ilton cum Pott, in the former Harrogate district. The parish includes Roundhill Reservoir. The population of the parish was estimated at 50 in 2015.[1]
| Ilton | |
|---|---|
  Ilton Location within North Yorkshire | |
| Population | 50 |
| OS grid reference | SE191782 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RIPON |
| Postcode district | HG4 |
| Dialling code | 01765 |
| Police | North Yorkshire |
| Fire | North Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
History
editThe name is recorded in the Domesday Book as Ilcheton, meaning "settlement of a man called Ylca".[2]
In the Middle Ages Fountains Abbey held land in Ilton, and also had a grange at Pott, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) west of Ilton. Following the Dissolution in the 16th century Sir Thomas Danby acquired the land at Pott, and in 1658 a later Sir Thomas Danby bought the Ilton land, which has since formed part of the Swinton estates.[3]
Although Ilton and Pott were detached from each other, they formed a single township in Mashamshire, the large ancient parish of Masham, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Ilton cum Pott became a separate civil parish in 1866. In 1934 a large area of Masham Moor between the two parts of the parish was added to the parish.[4] In 1974 the parish was transferred to the new county of North Yorkshire.
Governance
editUntil 1974 Ilton was part of Masham Rural District (before 1934 Masham Urban District) in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It is now part of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire.
The parish now shares a grouped parish council, known as Fearby, Healey and District Parish Council, with Colsterdale, Ellingstring, Fearby and Healey.[5]
Druids' Temple
editNear the village is the Druids' Temple, a replica of Stonehenge built in about 1800 by William Danby of nearby Swinton Park.[6] During a time of agricultural depression and high unemployment, Danby hired local men to construct a moderately large-scale replica of Stonehenge, working at a full shilling a day. The result is a folly of national reputation. He was less successful in hiring a silent druidic hermit to fulfill a seven-year contract, though several tried, for the promised annuity.[7] The folly is still owned by the Swinton Estate.
References
edit- ^ "Population Estimates" (PDF). North Yorkshire County Council. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2017. The population at the 2011 Census was included with the civil parish of Healey.
- ^ Watts, Victor, ed. (2010), "Ilton NYorks", The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Cambridge University Press
- ^ Page, William, ed. (1914). "Parishes: Masham". Victoria County History. A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 1. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ "Vision of Britain: Masham Moor". Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ "The Parish". Fearby Healey and District Parish Council. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1132035)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Druids Temple". Bivouac Swinton. Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2014.