Being the story of the ancient town ofPICKERING in Yorkshire from Prehistoric times up to the year of ourLord Nineteen Hundred & 5
BY GORDON HOME
TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIRGENEROUS HELP IN THE COMPILATION OF THIS BOOK
The original suggestion that I should undertake this task camefrom the Vicar of Pickering, and it is due to his co-operation andto the great help received from Dr John L. Kirk that this historyhas attained its present form. But beyond this I have had mostvaluable assistance from so many people in Pickering and thevillages round about, that to mention them all would almost entailreprinting the local directory. I would therefore ask all thosepeople who so kindly put themselves to great trouble and who gaveup much time in order to help me, to consider that they havecontributed very materially towards the compilation of thisrecord.
Beyond those who live in the neighbourhood of Pickering, I amparticularly indebted to Mr Richard Blakeborough for his kind helpand the use of his invaluable collection of Yorkshire folklore. MrBlakeborough was keen on collecting the old stories of hobs,wraithes and witches just long enough ago to be able to tap thememories of many old people who are no longer with us, and thus hiscollection is now of great value. Nearly all the folklore stories Iam able to give, are those saved from oblivion in this way.
I have also had much help from Mr J. Romilly Allen and from MrT.M. Fallow of Coatham, who very generously gave his aid indeciphering some of the older records of Pickering.
To Professor Percy F. Kendall who so kindly gave me permissionto reproduce his map showing the Vale of Pickering during theGlacial Epoch, as well as other valuable help, I am also greatlyindebted; and I have to thank Professor W. Boyd Dawkins for hiskindness in reading some of the proofs, and for giving valuablesuggestions.
GORDON HOME.
EPSOM, May 1905.
CONCERNING THOSE WHICH FOLLOW
THE FOREST AND VALE OF PICKERING IN PALÆOLITHIC AND PRE-GLACIALTIMES
THE VALE OF PICKERING IN THE LESSER ICE AGE
THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF THE FOREST AND VALE OF PICKERING
HOW THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF BRITAIN AFFECTED THE FOREST AND VALEOF PICKERING, B.C. 55 TO A.D. 418
THE FOREST AND VALE IN SAXON TIMES, A.D. 418 TO 1066
THE FOREST AND VALE IN NORMAN TIMES, A.D. 1066 TO 1154
THE FOREST AND VALE IN THE TIME OF THE PLANTAGENETS, A.D. 1154TO 1485