Saxton, North Yorkshire

Village in North Yorkshire, England

Human settlement in England
  • North Yorkshire
Ceremonial county
  • North Yorkshire
RegionCountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townTadcasterPostcode districtLS24Dialling code01937PoliceNorth YorkshireFireNorth YorkshireAmbulanceYorkshire
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
53°49′30″N 1°16′40″W / 53.8250°N 1.2777°W / 53.8250; -1.2777
The Greyhound at Saxton

Saxton is a village in North Yorkshire, England, 14 miles (23 km) south-west of York[1] and 12 miles (19 km) east of Leeds. The resident population is about 250. The closest town is Tadcaster.

History

The place-name 'Saxton' is attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Saxtun.[2] This is from the Old English Seax-tūn, meaning 'town or settlement of the Saxons'.[3]

A motte and bailey castle was built at Saxton. The medieval manor house that replaced the castle was demolished in the early-19th century but some earthworks of the castle's bailey and the motte survive.[4]

All Saints' Church is a grade I listed structure which dates to the 11th century.[5] Some bodies of those who were killed in the Battle of Towton were buried in the churchyard.[6] The men who gave their lives in the First World War are remembered on the War Memorial outside the church and a plaque inside the church.

The Battle of Towton was fought just north of the village.[6]

Saxton is home to an Anglican church, a primary school, a village hall, the Greyhound public house which is owned and operated by Samuel Smith Old Brewery and a cricket club.

References

  1. ^ "Genuki: Saxton, Yorkshire (West Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Saxton | Domesday Book". opendomesday.org. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. ^ Ekwall, Eilert (1960). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names (4 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 460. ISBN 0-19-869103-3.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Saxton Castle: a motte and bailey castle with a later medieval manor house and field system including a trackway and fishpond (1008226)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Church of All saints (Grade I) (1168016)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b Speight 1902, p. 214.

Sources

  • Speight, Harry (1902). Lower Wharfedale: Being a Complete Account of the History, Antiquities and Scenery. London: E Stock. OCLC 7225986.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saxton, North Yorkshire.
  • A CommuniGate Page
  • The Towton Battlefield Society Homepage
  • General information about the village of Saxton
  • Saxton Cricket Club Homepage
  • Saxton War Memorial