SINNINGTON. 269 



..; 

 *everal instances occur in the district. Near it was 



discovered a lew years ago, by the present proprie- 

 tor, a large stone, two feet square, and two feet in 

 thickness ; on which there was a bas-relief in ex. 

 cellent preservation, representing a snake of enor- 

 mous size grasping the head of a man ; the former 

 in full proportion, the latter only a half length 

 portrait. Being of free-stone, it was unfortunately 

 during his absence from home, made use of by some 

 ignorant workmen, in the repairs of the buildings 

 attached to his farm. 



The lords Latimer, whom I have spoken of as 

 proprietors of the Sirmington estates, were a very 



other donations of land and churches to the priory of 

 Guisbro'. The construction of the sentence would ra- 

 ther induce me to suppose that the chapel of St. Michael 

 was at Sherburn. 



The nuns were to pay 15s. a year " at Shireburue, " 

 which we know belonged to the priory of Guisbro', and 

 were to receive instead four oxgangs of land at Sinning- 

 ton, where the nuns of \edingham had already other 

 landed possessions, together with the patronage of the 

 church. This appears a reasonable and mutual accom- 

 modation, that land vf ould form a valuable addition to the 

 other lands of the nuns at Sinnington ; whilst on the 

 other hand the monks instead of being at the trouble of 

 going a distance of 20 miles to receive their dues, would 

 receive a composition, and other advantages, at their own 

 doors at Sherburn, from the nuns, whose priory at Yed- 

 ingham was only a short distance from that place. On 

 the other supposition, we should at one time see these 

 ladies posting to Sherburn with their money payments, 

 and at another dancing attendance on these lords of the 

 creation; and plodding from Yedingham to Sinnington 

 to provide them there with " white litter, candles, and 

 fuel." If this were really the case, 1 must say, I think 

 these gentlemen took a very unfair advantage of their 

 fair brethren ; and, under the colour of a mutual accom- 

 modation, had much the best of the bargain. 



