HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Middleton on the Wolds
The name of our village does not, as you may think, mean it was a middle town. In Old English, the name ‘midel’ does mean middle; but ‘ton’ can refer to a farm or estate. It is clear, looking at the pre 1794 map of the East Riding, that our village is at the centre of The East Riding Itself!
Source https://www.eastridingarchives.co.uk/
Our village is older than you may think! The village existed before the Norman Invasion in 1066. Records date back to the Domesday book of 1086 where it is referred to as ‘Middeltun’, ‘Middeltune’ or ‘Midelton.’ It had a recorded population of 12 households in 1086, and is listed under 5 owners in Domesday Book. We were part of an area of Yorkshire called Sneculfcros, which does not exist anymore.
We could have been Sneculfcrosians!
Before this, King Edward appointed tenant-in-chiefs, who collected taxes from the Lord of the village. The tenant in chief with the greatest influence was the Archbishop of York. In 1086, his lands contained eight households including a priest. The canons of Beverley St John were now involved, paying the taxes to the Archbishop.
By 1086, King William had rewarded his followers who were responsible for his success at the Battle of Hastings. The Archbishop of York retained land, and the other tenant in chief in 1086 was now Robert, Count de Mortain.
It is unclear whether the Count de Mortain visited Middleton. The immediate lords over the peasants were Lord Nigel Fossard and Richard de Sourdeval.The Count had another four households making a total of twelve.
Source: Yorkshire Folio 18, Open Domesday Book by Anna Powell Smith
Available on line at Middleton [on the Wolds] | Domesday Book
The details in the Domesday book were recorded because King William was facing a threat of invasion by the Vikings. Indirectly, we have the Vikings to thank for the beginning of historical records which detailed the way that people lived in our village, and across England.
The information was collected at local courts who asked detailed questions. The old manor court was held on a site which later became The Manor Farm, of which we have further information on our website. The twelve households recorded at Middleton were at working farms with peasants assigned to plough teams and plough fields.
The names of the people mentioned in the entire folio for the courts are quite entertaining, we have for example: Drogo de la Bevierethe; Hugh d’Arvranches; Meline; Earnwine the Priest; Egbrand; Gospatric; Geoffrey de Beauchamp; Hugh FitzBaldric and Odo the Crossbowman.
It all sounds rather grand, or maybe Lord of the Rings!
Source: Folio 381v Great Domesday Book E 31/2/2/9938 The National Archives Kew
Available on line at Discovery | The National Archives
Written by K. Kaye
May 2025
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