Myton Upon Swale

The Ancient Parish of MYTON UPON SWALE

[Transcribed information mainly from the early 1820s]

"MYTON UPON SWALE, a parish in the wapentake of Bulmer; 3 miles E. of Boroughbridge. Here is a very handsome church, dedicated to St. Mary; the living is a vicarage, in the patronage of the Archbishop of York, and the Rev. R. S. Thompson is the incumbent. In the year 1820, the remains of the famous Roger de Mowbray were removed from Byland Abbey, and interred here. A ferry for cattle, carriages, &c. passes over the Swale at this point, in view of the elegant mansion of M. B. Stapylton, Esq. Pop. 185.

The family of Stapylton is of great note and antiquity, having been in the earliest times summoned among the barons to parliament, and been honoured with that most noble order of knighthood, the garter, at and soon after the institution thereof. They take their name from Stapylton upon the Tees; Sir Miles was high sheriff of the county from the 29th to the 33rd of Edward III. They appear to have had residences at Carleton and Wighill, and settled at Myton in the reign of Charles I. -Betham's Baronetage.

In the year 1319, the Scots entering England under the command of Randolph, earl of Murray, laid waste the country with fire and sword, and continuing their depredations, advanced to the walls of York; after burning the suburbs of that city, they returned northwards, on which William de Melton, Archbishop of York, immediately raised an army, composed of clergymen, monks, canons, husbandmen, labourers, and tradesmen, to the amount of 10,000 men; with this undisciplined band the Archbishop overtook the Scots at Myton; a battle ensued, the Yorkshiremen were defeated, and upwards of 2000 of them were slain. On which occasion, such a number of ecclesiastics fell, with Nicholas Flemming, the lord mayor, that this fight was; for a long time, called ironically, the White Battle."