History

A wealth of historical facts relating to Asenby have been compiled by Mrs Carole Ford, of Asenby, who has kindly allowed us to bring them to you on our website and she hopes you enjoy reading them!!

What does Asenby mean?

There is some disagreement about the meaning; most claim the meaning is ‘Eystein’s farm’ from the old Norse or the old Danish name ‘Oysten’.

However others say the name means ‘residence of the Gods’ from Aisr one of the Norse Gods.

Field names indicate the Danish colonisation of marshy land eg ‘Bonny Carr’ (‘carr’ meaning a marshy area) and the suffix ‘-by’ is indicative of Scandinavian settlement from 850 A.D. Nevertheless it is possible that an already existing Anglo-Saxon settlement could have been re-named.

How Old is Asenby?

The first written evidence is the mention of Asenby in the Domesday survey of 1086.

“ In Topeclive (Topcliffe) and Crecula (Crakehill), Deltune (Dalton), Estanesbi (Asenby) and Schipetune (Skipton-on-Swale), Bernulf had 26 carucates of land for geld, where 15 ploughs may be. Now William has 3 ploughs here, and 35 villanes and 14 bordars with 13 ploughs. A church is here, and 2 priests having one plough, and one mill of five shillings (annual value).

Wood, pasturable, four quaranteens in lengths and four in breadth. T.R.E. (it was worth) four pounds; now, one hundred shillings.”

This tells us that:-

Bernulf, a Dane, used to own the land but it had been given to William de Percy by William the Conqueror after the Norman invasion
It was a relatively important area having a church, a mill and a comparatively large population for the period
It had increased in value, suggesting Norman sympathisers living in the area since many surrounding villages had been ‘laid waste’

Although we have no written evidence, archaeological finds in the surrounding area and early Christian worship here would suggest human settlement even before the Viking invasion.

THUS it seems that Asenby has certainly existed as a settlement for the last thousand years, probably existed as a nucleated settlement during the Danish invasion from 850 A.D., possibly had inhabitants prior to this.

Did You Know?

Asenby is home to one of only 10 rare medieval turf labyrinths in the country.

It is situated on the triangular grass area belonging to Crab Manor and measures 27 metres across and its path is 330 metres long. It is overgrown but, apparently, intact underneath the surface. It is recorded as a National Monument.

It is of the Chartres type and it was said in 1908 that ‘there are persons yet alive who have trodden it on many a summer’s evening and kneeling down at the centre have listened to hear the fairies singing’ (Allcroft ‘Earthwork of England’)

Facts about the River Swale

The fastest rising river in the country.
Asenby Parish Council hold the fishing rights from the bridge to Highfield’s plantation
Find out how YOU may get a fishing permit for free (ask a parish councillor!)
Before Thirsk Swimming Pool was opened by voluntary subscription in 1970, swimming in the Swale was a popular pastim.
Villagers donated 1d or 2d a week towards the building of the pool – it was collected with the milk money on a Friday evening
Several local people have drowned in the river over the centuries, either accidentally or deliberately
Work to make this section of the Swale navigable in the mid 1700s was stopped by money problems
More facts this way
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