StONEGRAYE. 



amongst agriculturists for his improved breed of 

 sheep and cattle, which have obtained various pre- 

 miums at the annual show of cattle, & ., held by 

 Charles Duncombe, Esq., at his seat at Buncombe 

 Park. The Old Hall, now occupied as a farm-house, 

 was once the residence of the celebrated Dean Com- 

 ber ; and in the gardens may still be seen in a >tate 

 of tolerable preservation, the square tower or tur- 

 ret, in which this learned divine is said to have pro- 

 secuted his studies. A broad gravel walk formerljr 

 led from the mansion to it, and the space between 

 was tastefully laid out in shrubberies and pleasure 

 grounds, not a vestige of which now remains. The 

 Hall commands a fine view in the direction of 

 Helmsley, and Kirkby-Moorside, and the lands are 

 remarkable for their fertility. This beautiful es- 

 tate was held from the time of Edward I., by the 

 ancient family of the de Thorntons, from whom 

 it passed by marriage into the hands of the Comb- 

 ers, and was lately purchased by Sir George Womb- 

 well, bart. 



Laysthorpe Hall, in the township of east New- 

 ton, and the residence of Henry Dowker, Esq. stands 

 in a commanding situation, overlooking the beauti- 

 ful vale which extends from Gilling Castle and 

 Oswaldkirk, to Malton and the Wolds. 



Laysthorpe is thus noticed in Domesday, amongst 

 the lands of Hugh, the son of Baldric, in the north 

 riding : 



'< Manor. In Lechestorp, (Laysthorpe) Orm had 

 two carucates of land to be taxed. There is land to 

 one plough. Hugh, son of Baldric has now ther* 



