Oulston is a village and civil parish in Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies about 3 miles (5 km) north-east of Easingwold. Remains of a Roman villa have been found in the area. The village is within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Oulston
Village Green in Oulston, North Yorkshire
Oulston is located in North Yorkshire
Oulston
Oulston
Location within North Yorkshire
Population149 (Including Thornton-on-the-Hill. 2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSE 5471 7441
Civil parish
  • Oulston
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townYORK
Postcode districtYO61
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°09′45″N 1°09′49″W / 54.162606°N 1.163629°W / 54.162606; -1.163629

History

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The village name may be derived from the Anglian personal name of Ulf combined with tun meaning habitation.[2]

There are the remains of a Roman villa nearby, consistent with the village's location near the junction of two old Roman roads. Articles from the site are located within the York Museum.[2][3]

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Uluestan and at the time of the Norman invasion, the lands were owned by Gospatric, son Arnketil.[4] Following the Norman invasion of Britain, the estates of Yearsley, Coxwold and Oulston fell into the hands of a Norman family whose previous seat of power had been in Montbray, Normandy. By 1158, however, these same lands had been given to another Norman lord whose family base had been Colleville on the Normandy coast. In return for receiving these lands, Thomas de Colville had to swear allegiance to Roger de Mowbray. Thomas de Colville's estate included the manors of Yearsley, Coxwold and Oulston as well as other properties and land in York, Thirsk, Everley, Nunwick, Ripon, Kilburn and Upsland. The Colville shield is proudly displayed at one of the roof intersections in the twelfth century Norman church at Coxwold. A fourth Thomas Colville generously allowed John, the Prior of Newburgh, to live “by suit of court” in his manor house at Oulston. In return for Thomas's generosity, John (besides offering prayers) used his influence, in 1256, to arrange a special privilege for Thomas: Thomas would no longer be required, on behalf of the king, to carry out any legal or other administrative duties against his will.[5] The lands were eventually passed to the Fauconberg family and thence to the Wombwell family, who resided at nearby Newburgh Priory Estate.[3]

There used to be a Wesleyan chapel in the village, which is now the village hall. It is a Grade II listed building.[6]

There are four sites in the area that are scheduled ancient monuments.[7] They are:

Governance

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The village is part of the Thirsk and Malton UK Parliament constituency. It lies within the Stillington, North Yorkshire electoral division of North Yorkshire County Council. It also lies within the White Horse ward of Hambleton District Council.[8]

Geography

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According to the 1881 UK census, the population was 177.[3] In the 2001 UK census the population was 102 of which 85 were over sixteen years old. Of those, 51 were in employment.[9]

Oulston lends its name to the reservoir on the River Foss to the east of the village.[8]

The nearest settlements to Oulston are Crayke 2.7 miles (4.3 km) to the south; Husthwaite 1.9 miles (3.1 km) to the west; Coxwold 1.6 miles (2.6 km) to the north and Yearsley 2.4 miles (3.9 km) to the east.[8]

References

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  1. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Oulston Parish (1170216902)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Conservation". Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Bulmer's Topography, History and Directory (Private and Commercial) of North Yorkshire 1890. S&N Publishing. 1890. p. 678. ISBN 1-86150-299-0.
  4. ^ Oulston in the Domesday Book. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  5. ^ Yearsley: A Genealogical Story Part 1: The Early Years
  6. ^ Historic England. "The Cottage South Of Former Methodist Chapel (Now Village Hall) (1150729)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Heritage at Risk Register Yorkshire & Humber 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  8. ^ a b c Ordnance Survey Open Viewer
  9. ^ "2001 Census". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
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  Media related to Oulston at Wikimedia Commons