Ness, North Yorkshire

Ness is a former civil parish, now in the parish of Nunnington, on the south bank of the River Rye in North Yorkshire, England. It contained the hamlets of East Ness and West Ness. The name Ness may mean "nose" or "headland" in Medieval Norse, as Ness is the start of the hill that ultimately rises up to become Sutton Bank. It may also come from Old English, meaning a place at the promontory or projecting ridge. The civil parish was formed on 24 March 1887 from "East Ness" and "West Ness". On 1 April 1986 the parish was abolished and merged with Nunnington. In 1971 the parish had a population of 39. Until 1974 it was in the North Riding of Yorkshire. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Ryedale, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council. The village of Ness is believed to have been split into West and East, following the Norman Invasion as the ownership of the village was split between two landlords. This land ownership split still continues today. To the East of Ness, at the base of the hill, there are a considerable number of springs. Behind Ness Hall there is a large undercover Yorkshire Water reservoir, filled with water pumped from the springs. Ness has an interesting Roman connection. It is believed a Roman Villa or fort existed on the hill top and various items have been found to support this. Bulmer's Directory (1890) states that a sarcophagus was found in 1616 with the inscription: TITIA PINTA VIXIT xxxviii ET VAL ADIVTORI VIXIT ANN xx ET VARIOLO VIXIT ANN xv VAL VINDICIANVS CONIYGIE T FILLS. Bulmers Directory notes, "This monument, the inscription tells us, was erected by Valerius Vindicianus to the memory of his wife, Titia, who died at the age of 38, and of his two sons Valerius Adjutor and Variolus, who died at the ages of 20 and 15 respectively. Vindician was probably the occupant of the Roman villa, to which the bath and tesselated floor above mentioned belonged; and that whilst in command of the fort or camp here he lost his wife and two sons." Early Ordnance Survey maps show the deemed location of the Sarcophagus. Ness Hall in East Ness has a large walled garden which has been restored by Cynthia Murray Wells and subsequently Mary Murray Wells assisted by Harriette Murray Wells (daughter of John Skeffington, 14th Viscount Massereene). The garden is available for viewing on set dates each year under the National Garden Scheme.

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Muscoates

Muscoates is a hamlet and former civil parish, now in the parish of Nunnington, in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Riccal, 4 miles (6 km) to the south of the town of Kirkbymoorside.

Nunnington Mill

Nunnington Mill is a historic watermill in Nunnington, a village in North Yorkshire, in England. There was a cornmill on the River Rye in Nunnington at the time of the Domesday Book. The current building was constructed in the mid or late 18th century, and it was extended and partly rebuilt in the 19th century. It remained in use until about 1960, then was converted into a granary. The building was grade II listed in 1987. The original part of the mill is constructed of limestone, and the rebuilt part is in rusticated stone. It has a pantile roof with coped gables and shaped kneelers. It has four storeys and five bays. At the right end is a wheel arch with rusticated voussoirs, and all the windows have top opening lights. At the rear is a cart shed, and on the right bay is a stable door on the lower two floors, and above them is a weatherboarded lucam. The undershot waterwheel survives, with a cast iron rim and centre and wooden spokes and paddles. Much machinery also survives on the ground floor.

River Riccal

The River Riccal is a river of North Yorkshire, England, lying within the North York Moors National Park. It is a tributary of the River Rye, which in turn is a tributary of the River Derwent. The name originates in the fourteenth century as Ricolvegraines means Rye Calf, where Calf is a small island near a larger one. This describes the way the river, and those nearby, form islands as their nature changes due to meandering. Some writers have misspelled the river Riccall, possibly in confusion with an unconnected village in North Yorkshire. The Riccal name was also the name of a Rural District before 1935. The river is under the management of the Rye Internal Drainage Board, a member of the Vale of Pickering IDBs.

South Holme

South Holme is a settlement and civil parish about 17 miles from York, in the county of North Yorkshire, England. In 2001 the parish had a population of 31. The parish touches Barton-le-Street, Fryton, Hovingham, Nunnington and Slingsby. South Holme shares a parish council with Slingsby and Fryton. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Ryedale, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.