These are a selection very short pieces gleaned from newspapers - mostly local papers - and magazines. They have been gathered together here because they don't really belong on any other of our pages. However, they deserve an audience.
So we present - Stillington Snippets!
November 1740
The Great Gale in Yorkshire
We hear that in Stillington, in the above mentioned county, several yards of lead have been blown off the top of the church tho’ the lead was reckoned to weigh near 400 weight.
February 1791
As a labouring man from Husthwayte was visiting a public house at nearby Stillington one of his company offered to bett a wager that he could not drink a certain number of quarts of ale in a given time. The bett was immediately taken, with the additional engagement of eating the quart mug into the bargain. Strange to relate the arduous task was successfully executed, but as a check to such savage manners we report the adventurer's death a few days later from mortification of his stomach and bowels.
February 1797
General Information
It has come to our notice that a grain of wheat grown last Summer in a garden in Stillington (County of York) produced 1214 grains, which seems to prove that when a plant has more room to spread it will be more productive. This can be seen with plants set by the dibbling in, or transplantation, method.
February 1838
Notice
JAMES LAIDLAR, lately of Gillygate, York begs to inform his friends and the public that he has commenced the business of TALLOW CHANDLER upon the premises in Stillington where the same was for many years carried on by his father-in-law Peter Sowray and by his brother-in-law Henry Sowray.
J L trusts by punctuality and the production of a superior article for which his later father Peter and brother Henry were so justly famed, to merit the support that was bestowed upon them.
October 1839
Free Gardeners
A lodge of this order has opened at Stillington, on Monday last, under the very auspicious circumstances bearing the title of 'Stillington Hope Lodge'. Upwards of twenty members were admitted and a considerable number of candidates were entered on the proposal book. A public procession and an excellent dinner at the Bay Horse Inn concluded the proceedings.
August 1842
A Sporting Bet
Prior to a match between a Stillington eleven against a Helmsley team a single wicket competition was undertaken between Mr Henry Scaife of Stillington and Mr George Commins of Helmsley. The prize was two sovereigns, which were won in fine style by G. Commins, who scored 4 in his first innings and 43 in the second. Scaife scored first 0 second 4; Commins winning with 44 to spare.
June 1862
New Harmonium
An harmonium was opened on Whit Sunday in the Parish Church, and by the sweetness of its tones gave great satisfaction to a numerous congregation. The instrument was made and played by Mr George Richardson, a native of Stillington, and whose harmoniums have been sold extensively in adjoining villages.
March 1880
The White Mole (talpa europa)
Another fine specimen of the white mole has been captured at Stillington and is now in the possession of Mr George Edson of Malton.
October 1886
Letter - The Mild Season
Sir, - Having read your account of strawberries being gathered during this week at Canterbury I send you a piece of laburnum which I cut from a small tree this afternoon in this village, which is in full bloom. In the same garden a plum tree is bearing a second crop of fruit this season.
August 1892
Unusual Bird at Stillington
A few days ago a curious bird, about the size of a young thrush, was captured in one of the conservatories attached to Stillington Hall by the gamekeeper F Masterman. It is supposed to be one of the many varieties of shrikes, or butcher birds, on account of its large, strong and slightly crooked beak. The plumage is yellowish-grey, with slate coloured wings and slight pink legs. On another vein of natural history two young otters have been seen disporting themselves on the upper reaches of the Foss, known locally as Foss Beck, between Marton Abbey Mill and Stillington Mill. Otters have not been seen in the vicinity for many years.
May 1933
Local Information
A pair of nightingales have nested in a wood at Stillington, between York and Helmsley, and every night at about midnight many people assemble to hear the bird sing.
September 1933
Letter. Observer’s report from Stillington Hall
Sir, A beautiful Hummingbird Hawk Moth has been seen in the gardens of Stillington Hall. The body was long, plump and of a dull colour; the tail, which reminded one of a bird tail, was black and white. The wings, showing an orange hue, whirred all the time it was flitting from flower to flower of a fuchsia bush, the one bush it preferred - also it made a low continuous hum. The tongue was very long. It was seen once again on the same bush this afternoon. Yours etc…
February 1944
A Stillington Complaint
Shall Stillington (near Easingwold) have fried fish? And shall Mr George Manson supply it? These questions are no doubt important matters to the people of Stillington. That they must be so is suggested by the fact that Mr Turton MP for Thirsk and Malton has given notice to ask the Minister of Food a question about them.
Mr Turton is to demand of Colonel Llewellin 'whether he is aware that the village of Stillington near Easingwold which had two fried fish shops before the war now has no such facilities and whether he will review his decision not to grant a fish-frying licence to Mr George Manson.'
The question will be put on the Common's second sitting day.
November 1947
Ironmonger leaves £61,500
Mr Jo Ackroyd of The Folly, Stillington, near York formerly of Heckmondwike, retired ironmonger, left £61,599 (net £61, 523). Duty paid £14, 188
He left his property to Gertrude Senior for life, and then £5000 and his residence and effects to Mr and Mrs Albert North of Stillington; real estate at Blackpool to the Christian Alliance for Women and Girls; £1000 to George Street Congregational Church in Heckmondwike for the upkeep of family graves; £500 for St Nicholas Church, Stillington for the upkeep of the graveyard; the remainder is split between various charities including the National Children’s Home, The Salvation Army, Manchester and Salford Children’s Mission, the RSPCA and PDSA.
Miss Senior, who is 70, lives alone at The Folly. She was Mr Ackroyd’s housekeeper for 18 years and first came to be housekeeper along with her sister the late Miss Edith Senior, from Keighley where they had a stationery shop and sub-post office in Ingrow Road.
June 1955
RAF Fund Honorary Appointments
New honorary education advisers appointed by the fund include Dr F. P. Willis of Stillington, Yorkshire. A panel of more than 125 advisers has been appointed throughout Britain to assist in formulating education plans for children for whom the fund has responsibility.
December 1955
Undefendable Action - Parish resents cost of election!
Parish has refused to pay £16 for election of own councillors!
The people of Stillington, near Easingwold, elected a parish council this year. The election cost was £16, two-thirds of the parish council's annual income. The heaviest item was the printing of 400-500 ballot papers, but there were also fixed fees from the North Riding County Council returning officer, presiding officer and poll clerk.
The question of the cost was raised by Stillington Parish Council at yesterday's meeting of the North Riding Rural Councils' Association at Northallerton.
A letter was read by the secretary of the Association complaining that the cost was excessive and said that the matter had been raised with Mr R H Turton, MP for Thirsk and Malton, who had replied that the cost would be much reduced once rural and council elections were synchronised. Though it was queried as to what the procedure would be if no election for a Rural District Councillor took place.
Mr H. Osbourne, Clerk to Easingwold Rural District Council, said a bill had been sent to Stillington Parish Council in May and at first it refused to pay. 'It has only just been paid in November,' he explained.
Councillor J Brocklebank said that an amount that size may well put off a parish from holding an election. He said it would result in the parish getting into a huddle in order to avoid the cost of an election. He declared ' This operates against the democratic spirit we want to maintain. We want a healthy interest in all forms of government.'
It was suggested that Stillington should raise the matter with the Yorkshire Parish Councils' Association.
Doncaster November Sales 1968
Stillington, York, trainer D. W. Chapman secured the stallion My Smokey for 350gns. The winner of over £8000, including the Dewhurst Stakes in 1954 and ten other races. My Smokey was fifth in both the Two Thousand Guineas and The Derby.
He retired to stud in 1958 and has sired the winners of 58 races under Jockey Club Rules and many more over jumps.
