Asenby's History - by Carole Ford

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 we hope you enjoy reading them.

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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.

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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 evidence 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.

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

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Pinfolds in Asenby

A pinfold is a pound with high walls in which stray animals were confined and were usually located on the edges of villages, near smithies or inns, so that drovers could secure their animals there overnight.

Villages were obliged to have pinfolds and there used to be two in Asenby:-

1. At the Rainton crossroads near to The Forge, and The Shoulder of Mutton (now the Crab and Lobster).
2. Next to the smithy which used to be to the rear of where Pear Tree House is now. All that remains is part of the high wall but the bungalow named ‘Pinfold’ commemorates the place.

It's recorded that in 1675 the residents of Asenby were fined for not hav​ing a pinfold!

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The River Swale

1. One of the fastest rising rivers in the country.
2. 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 by contacting the Parish Council using the enquiry form on the HOME page.
3. Before Thirsk Swimming Pool was opened by voluntary subscription in 1970, swimming in the Swale was a popular pastime.
4. Villagers donated 1d or 2d (old pence) a week towards the building of the pool – it was collected with the milk money on a Friday evening.
5. Several local people have drowned in the river over the centuries, either accidentally or deliberately.
6. Work to make this section of the Swale navigable in the mid 1700s was stopped.

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