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The Rectory in 1784


from The Barwicker No.20



From time to time the incumbents at all parishes were required to make what was called 'a true Terrier' or description of all the Glebe lands, Meadows, Gardens, Houses, Tythes and other Rights' belonging to the parish. On 1 May, 1764, the Rector of Barwick-in Elmet, John Sumner, drew up a particularly detailed terrier, which was preserved by his successors and is now safely housed in the Leeds District Archives at Sheepscar for the use of grateful present-day historians.

His description of the Rectory, its outbuildings and surrounds is of particular interest and is given below The original spelling and punctuation have been retained but the text has been spaced out for easier reading. 'The Old House' (now a separate dwelling, No.2 Aberford Road)) is the eastern part of the present building and dates back to the fifteenth century. 'The New End', built in about 1700, forms the central part of the present building, the western part of which was added in Victorian times (see the cover of The Barwicker' No.10).

Most of the outbuildings have disappeared but it seems likely from its position that 'The Hay Barn' is the building which was recently converted into a house, No.2A Aberford Road. The new Rectory was built in the southern part of 'The Great Garden'. The site of 'The Tythe Barn', a very large building, is now occupied by modern housing. 'The Tythe Barn Croft' now forms Jack Heap's Field. Note the siting of the old school on Potterton Lane, north of the church.

The Parsonage House. The Old House is Built of stone, and Covered with Slate. it Contains, in Length, Forty four feet and in Breadth, Thirty One feet. The New End is Built of Brick, and Covered with Slate, Contains in Length, Forty three feet, and in Breadth Thirty Nine ft. And Consists of the Rooms following (Viz)

Upon the first Floor. The Kitchen, Plaistered, floored with Stone, the Old Hall Plaistered, floored with Stone, the Dining Room Done with ( ? ), floored with Stone, the large Parlour, Wainscotted with Deal and floored with Deal, the Lesser Parlour, Plaistered, floored with Deals the Study Papered and floored with Deal, A Large Cellar, Divided into four and floored with Boulders, One Pantry, Plaistered, floored with Deal, One Scullery Plaistered, floored with Stone.

Upon the Second Floor. The Hall Chamber, Hung with Stuff, floored with Deal, the large Parlour Chamber, Papered, floored with Deal, the Lesser Parlour Chamber Papered, floored with Deal, the Study Chamber, Hung with Stuff, floored with Deal, the Old Hall Chamber, Plaistered, floored with Oak, the Kitchen Chamber, Plaistered, floored with Oak, Four Garrets, Plaistered, floored with the Same.

Two Stables, Brewhouse, Coal House, two Granary Chambers, all under One Roof. Built of Stone, Brick and Wood, Covered with Slate, Contains in Length, Sixty five feet, and in Breadth, Twenty feet. The Gates, Henhouse, with a Pidgeon Coat over it, Built of Wood, Brick, and Plaister, Covered with Slate, Contains in Length, twenty seven feet, and in Breadth, Twenty feet, the Hay Barn, and Cow House, Built of Stone, Covered with Thatch, Contains in length, Sixty Seven feet, in Breadth, Twenty feet. two Houses of Office, One Built of Stone, the other of brick, Covered with Slate.

One Garden, Going up to the House, with a Brick wall On the East, On the West the same, on the North, with a brick wall, Half a Yard high, Pallisaded upon it with large Pallisade gates, Fronting the House Door. the fold yard, Contains One Rood, fenced about, On the East by a stone Wall, on the West, by the Hay Barn, On the North, by the Gate House & Stables, On the South side by the House.

The Coach House, Built of Stone & Brick, But the Roof of it is Down, Contains in Length, Eighteen feet, and in Breadth, fourteen feet. On the South side of the House is the Great Garden, Wall'd about with a Brick Wall, Contains two Roods.

The Tythe Barn, Built of Stone, Brick and Wood, Covered with Thatch, Contains in Length, One Hundred and two feet, in Breadth, thirty two feet, the Tythe Barn Croft, fenced about, with a Stone Wall, Contains two Roods, Fold Yard, belonging to the Tythe Barn, fenced about with a Stone wall, East and West, on the North by the Great Garden Wall, On the south by the Barn, Contains one Rood.

Church Yard. Fenced about, On the East by Thos. Bean, Part of it with a Wall, & the Other Part Quick Edge, On the West, by the Town Street, with a Stone Wall, on the North by the school. On the South, by the Town Street, Walled and Stooped and railled, Contains in Measure two Roods.

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