142 REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1897 



1578-1586. The chapels of Belsay, Harterton, and Thorneton — no curate 



and no churchwarden. 

 1587. Bishop Barnes — Belsaye Parish without incumbent and served 

 by a stipendiary. 

 The old manor house built on to the Castle, 1614, enlarged 1624, 

 Thomas Middleton and Dorothy his wife. 



N.B. — Skeat on Words of Gaelic origin : — " Beltane, an old name for the 

 first of May is mentioned according to Jamieson, 1424, in the Acts of 

 James I. of Scotland. It is doubtless of Gaelic origin, and we may 

 rest assured that the first part of the word has nothing to do with 

 Bel or Baal." There are traditions of the bonfire being observed 

 at Belsay, or rather at Belshow. 



