Welburn is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, in England, 2 miles south-west of Kirkbymoorside and about 24 miles from York. In 2021 the population of the civil parish was 80. The population of the parish was estimated at 60 in 2012.

The civil parish includes the lower part of Kirkdale, including Kirkdale Cave and the parish church of St Gregory's Minster, both about north of the village. The Slingsby Aviation works and airstrip lie south-east of the village.

Welburn was historically a township in the parish of Kirkdale and became a civil parish in 1866. In 1870–72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Welburn like this:

"WELBURN, a township in Kirkdale parish, N. R. Yorkshire; 5 miles E of Helmsley. Acres, 1,582. Real property, £2,846. Pop., 121. Houses, 20."

From 1974 to 2023, it was part of the district of Ryedale, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

The name Welburn derives from the Old English wellaburna meaning 'spring by a stream'.

Welburn Hall

Welburn Hall is a grade II listed house, designed by Walter Brierley and incorporating a 17th-century wing. It is now a school which caters for children and young people aged eight to 19 who have a range of special educational needs. The house has been grade II listed since 1985.

Early Welburn Families

Potter and Franklin Richard Potter was born in 1786 and became a miller occupying Howkeld Mill.1841 Census HO107; Piece: 1263; Book: 11; Kirkdale; District: 11; Folio: 3; Page: GSU roll: 464235 In 1784, William Franklin was born in Welburn.1851 Census of Welburn : HO107; Piece: 2372; Folio: 319; GSU roll: 87656-87657 He worked as a cartwright and in 1861, he was lodging with another carpenter, John Clarke, who was employing 3 apprentices.1861 Census of Welburn, RG 9; Piece: 3639; Folio: 41; GSU roll: 543165.

Parker, Snowdon and Foxton Thomas Parker (1744–1817), who was probably born in Edmundbyres, Durham,Edmundbyres Parish records appeared in Yorkshire during the mid-18th Century. He married Hannah Boyes (1754–1841) who was born in Wombleton and they took up farming in Welburn.1841 census; HO107; Piece: 1263; Book: 11; Civil Parish: Kirkdale; District: 11; Folio: 3; Page: 1 GSU roll: 464235. Christopher Foxton (1745–1810) and his wife, Ann Hodgson, farmed 200 acres. By 1840, their son, John Foxton (1773–1835) and Grace Brown (1783–1835) had taken over this farm. John and Grace were born in Welburn and married in 1803.England marriage record: York;1803 The widowed Grace and her two sons, Richard Foxton (born 1817) and Hartas Foxton (1822–1904)continued to run the farm through the 1850s. By 1861, Hartas had taken over Welburn Grange.1851 and 1861 Census of Welburn Leonard Snowdon (born 1764) followed by Mathew Snowdon (1795–1851) occupied West Ings.1841 and 1851 Census of Welburn The Parker, Foxton and Snowdon families became intertwined by marriage during the 1800s, producing many descendants who contributed to the growth and prosperity of Yorkshire and beyond. Thomas Parker and Hannah Boyes produced five children:1841 & 1851 censuses of Welburn.

Thomas Parker married Jane Winspear Elizabeth [aka. Betty] Parker married Joseph Worthy Margaret [aka. Peggy] Parker married William Foxton John Parker married Ann Richardson Joseph Parker married Lavinia Fenwick

During the 1840s and 1850s, the three Parker brothers were tenant farmers on individual acreages and occupied adjacent homes in Welburn Village. They produced twelve sons and eight daughters in total. Thomas Parker and Jane Winspear's son, another Thomas Parker (1811–1897), married Jane Foxton and worked as a cattle jobber in nearby Wombleton. This couple produced seven sons and five daughters. Their move back to Welburn possibly coincided with the death of Thomas' father in 1853 and by 1881, Thomas and Jane, now "cattle dealers", had moved to Sonley Hill, Welburn.RG10; Piece: 4839; Folio: 41; Page: 2; GSU roll: 847369; RG12; Piece: 3987; Folio: 38; Page: 4; GSU roll: 6099097; HO107; Piece: 2372; Folio: 319; Page: 2; GSU roll: 87656-87657. Hartas Foxton was born in Welburn in 1822. By 1861, he occupied Welburn Grange with his wife, Elizabeth, farming 210 acres and employing six servants.1861 Census of Welburn

John (Jack) Parker (1822–1890), son of John Parker and Ann Richardson, became the original Sinnington Huntsman. He was described as an eccentric character "whose witty anecdotes are still remembered".Home G. 1905, The Evolution of an English Town, London : Dent. Jack Parker is also noted as the legendary huntsman who "blooded" the Viscount of Helmsley.'Ninety Years of Hunting' Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, 25 June 1915, Page 1.

According to available records, Frederick Parker (1833–1912), son of Thomas Parker and Jane Foxton, is the only Parker to have a direct connection to Welburn Hall. During the 1860s and 1870s, Frederick and Jane Snowdon were farming 150 acres at nearby Muscoates.RG 9; Piece: 3639; Folio: 45; Page: 9; GSU roll: 543165; RG10; Piece: 4839; Folio: 43; Page: 6; GSU roll: 847369. By 1881, Frederick and his second wife, Mary, were farming 113 acres in Welburn. West Ings, a 234-acre farm, adjacent to Welburn Hall, was the birthplace of Frederick's former wife, Jane Snowdon. In 1881, West Ings was occupied by her brother, William Snowdon and his wife, Hannah.Map of Welburn, 1890, http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps; RG11; Piece: 4825; Folio: 43; Page: 6; GSU roll: 1342163; RG12; Piece: 3987; Folio: 38; Page: 4; GSU roll: 6099097. By 1901, Frederick Parker was again a widower, farming Welburn Hall acreage until about 1910. He moved to Wombleton where he died in 1912.Probate, York 17 May 1912.

In 1859, Joseph and Thomas Parker, sons of Thomas Parker and Jane Foxton,1841 and 1851 Censuses of Wombleton left Welburn intent upon making their fortune. By 1860, they had arrived in Port Chalmers, New Zealand aboard the Ocean Chief and soon after headed to the gold diggings at Gabriel's Gully.Obituary, Thos Parker, Otago Witness,17 January 1906, p28, available NZ Paper Past. Like many before them, Thomas and Joseph must have found slim pickings because they eventually returned to farming, this time on New Zealand's South Island. Thomas did not marry. He became a successful horse breeder often travelling to Australia to sell his stock.Obituary, Otago Witness, 17 January 1906, 28. Joseph married Catherine Buchanan Crerar.NZBDM 1865/8573 They had five sons and two daughters, thus establishing the Parker family in New Zealand.NZBDM records for 'Parker'1866 to 1879 In the fledgling New Zealand society, the Parker brother's tales about their former life at "Parker Castle" must have made impressive dinner conversation. No doubt the 'castle' was a tongue-in-cheek referral to Welburn Hall.

Barthram William Barthram was born in Stockerley in 1772 and during the early 1800s he moved to Welburn. He became the publican and also farmed 80 acres. His sons, Samuel Barthram and John Barthram, were born about 1811. They remained in Welburn and both became Blacksmiths.1841 Census of Welburn John and his wife, Bessy, produced four sons and three daughters and by 1861, John was a blacksmith, tanner and farmer of 72 acres. William Barthram's third son, Richard Barthram (1813–1874), married Mary Parker (1818–1907) daughter of Thomas Parker and Jane Winspear.

Lancaster & Flowers Hebden Flowers (born 1790) occupied the 85 acre "Starfits Grange" farm.1851 Census of Welburn William Lancaster (1812–1878) was born in Wombleton and he married Elizabeth Flowers who was born in Welburn in 1824. They lived in Starfits Lane and continued to work the farm. Their daughter, Annie Lancaster, was born about 1853 and she married Nimrod Parker (1847–1888), son Thomas Parker and Jane Foxton.1851 Census of Wombleton: HO107; Piece: 2372; Folio: 335; Page: 15; GSU roll: 87656-87657

Featherstone and Walker In the early 1840s, William Featherstone farmed Sonley Hill. Also during this period, William Walker (born 1796), his wife, Elizabeth Walker and 12 children occupied Welburn Grange. By the late 1850s, Hartas Foxton and his wife Elizabeth (1823–) had possession of the Grange with the help of six servants.1841 and 1861 Census of Welburn

See also Listed buildings in Welburn, Kirkbymoorside

References

External links

Rydale council list