Stapleton, Richmondshire

Stapleton (locally [stepəltən], ˈsteɪpltən) is a small village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically, the settlement was part of the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Stapleton, North Yorkshire

The village green in autumn
Stapleton, North Yorkshire
Location within North Yorkshire
Population179 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceNZ263121
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townDarlington
Postcode districtDL2
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
  • Richmond (North Yorks)

Etymology

There is some dispute of the etymological origins of the place name Stapleton. Historian Henry Chetwynd-Stapylton (quoting Samuel Johnson) states in 1884 that the first part of the name, 'staple', originated from the word 'stapel' meaning a trading position or a place where goods for sale are stored.[2] Another theory, however, puts forward that 'staple' originates from the old english word 'stapol' meaning boundary, which is also plausible given the villages past as a major river crossing.[3] In both cases the second part of the name, 'ton', originates from the Anglo-Saxon 'tun' meaning settlement.[4]

History

Stapleton was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.[5] Though it has been known that a settlement has existed on this sharp bend in the river since the 9th century. The village and surrounding area were granted by William the Conqueror to a knight who would become known as Benedict de Stapleton. One member of the Stapleton family, Miles Stapleton of Bedale was one of the founding members of the Order of the Garter. The family built a manor in the village as well as a private chapel named after St James. In the 13th century the 'de Stapleton' family gave some lands around the village to the nearby Premonstratensian monks of Easby Abbey and in so doing forgoing the obligation to maintain a ferryboat across the river. The settlement had a second church known as St Leonard's, which was administered by Easby Abbey. Neither the manor nor either of the two churches exist today. However, local speculation suggests that the site of the manor is located in 'Garth Field', the irregularity of the land being the last remnants of a defensive moat or pond.[6] By 1616 the Stapleton family had left the village and the churches fell out of use, following this, the village was served by the 12th century Church of St Peter. This is thought to be the origin of the local name given to the path to the nearby village of Croft, the 'Corpse Walk', so named as the deceased of the village had to be carried from Stapleton to Croft, a distance of some three miles.[7]

During the medieval period, a bridge linked the village to the northern bank of the river and a ferry had existed before that.[6] It is believed that this gave the village's only public house (The Bridge Inn) its name.[8] This bridge however was lost after a flood and was not replaced, meaning that the nearest crossing was at Croft-on-Tees until 1833 when the Blackwell bridge was built.[8]

In 1945 the village was used as a filming location for the film Way to the Stars. Until the second half of the 20th century the village was served by a post office, a blacksmith and a public house. Only the latter is still in use.

Today

Stapleton was part of the former North Riding of Yorkshire and is today part of the County of North Yorkshire, in the administrative area of Richmondshire. The village also lies within the Richmond Constituency, represented since 2015 by Conservative Party Member of Parliament and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. Residents use the GP surgery in Aldbrough St John and Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

Geography

Stapleton is situated above the banks of the Tees on the lower course of the river.[9] In the locality of the village the river meanders through a fertile clay plain on its way the Tees Estuary.[10] The settlement is predominantly surrounded by 'undulating' agricultural land, which is used for both arable and pastoral farming.[8] A notable feature of the nearby landscape is a prominent low escarpment, known as the 'Monkend Hills', which stretch from Croft to the east (taking their name from Monkend Hall) across to Manfield in west.[8] From the top of Stapleton Bank, views can be seen towards the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and Upper Teesdale. Walkers following the long distance walk known as the 'Teesdale Way' pass through the village.

  • Panoramic view of farmland at Stapleton. The North York Moors can be seen in the distance.
  • The Marquess of Zetland's hounds at Stapleton village green in the 1870s.
  • Miles Stapleton, whose family took the name of the village and owned the surrounding lands it for many centuries.
  • Stapleton green in the snow.
  • Grade II listed late Georgian cottages at the west end of the village green.
  • Memorial to Captain Wilfred Thornton on Stapleton village green.

References
  1. "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  2. Henry Edward Chetwynd-Stapylton. Chronicles of the Yorkshire family of Stapelton. Oxford University. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal, 1884.
  3. "Last name: Stapleton". Internet Surname Database. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  4. "Talk of the town: The etymology of UK places". The Independent. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. "Yorkshire: North Riding". Internet Domesday Book. 23 November 1999. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  6. "Parishes: Croft | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  7. "Happy to be... a drummer". The Northern Echo. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  8. Lloyd, Chris (9 February 2010). "The story of Stapleton". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  9. "Case study - River Tees - River landforms - AQA - GCSE Geography Revision - AQA". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  10. "River Tees | river, England, United Kingdom". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 16 October 2020.

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