January 1, 1970

Crowle 1856 Directory

By Angus Townley

Crowle 1856 Directory

Crowle is a small but thriving market town,near the channel of the old river Don,6 miles N of Epworth increased its inhabitants from 1889 , in 1831 to
2548 souls in 1851 and has in its township about 6000 acres of land.including the hamlet of Ealand 1 mile SE, Crowle Wharf on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal 1 mile S of the town. and about 500 acres of moorland, lying within the Yorkshire border, and assessed to the county rates of West riding .about 200 acres of this moor have been enclosed and much improved by warping during the last 10 years. Crowle parish also includes Eastoft township. and many parts of it have been fertilized by the warping porcess. It is in Thorne Union and County court district. Its market formally held every
Saturday is now only held every Monday fortnight, during the months of March ,April, May. on Sept 14 and on Nov 23rd or old St Martinmas Day. Crowle
bienial cattle fair was held on Monday June 26th 1856. Gas Works were erected here in 1854.
The old Don is now only a small brook. but the suurounding country is intersected by drains ,canals and embankments as to give the appearance of a dutch settlement.
The growth of potatoes & the cultivating of Flax is where many are employed, Earl Manvers is lord of the Manor.In 1747 the body of a woman at the depth of 6 feet in the peat moor near Crowle in an errect position ,and though from the antique sandals on her feet she appeared to have been there several centuries ,her hair and nails were as fresh as when living and the skin was soft and strong though of a tawny colour.
The church of St oswalds had undergone many repairs but still retains its Saxon look.It has a living of 777 pounds in the patronage of Rev, Wm Duncombe Eqs, In 1813 the tithes of 500 acres were awarded to the vicar,There are 4 chapels in the town Weslayan , Primitive Methodists , Independants & General Baptists. Three houses with 10 acres of land were given to the parish for the education and relief of the poor, by Richard
Brewer in 1687, Thomas Walkwood in 1692 & Richard Clark in 1721. The school master gets paid 48 pounds a year for teaching 48 free scholars ,besides an allowance for coal. Tetley Hall is the seat of Henry Lister Maw Esq. and is approached by a fine avenue of trees, one on his ancestors suffered martyrdom at lincoln . Sand Hall is the seat of john Brunyee Esq.