Methley, Yorkshire Genealogy

England Yorkshire  Yorkshire Parishes K-R West Riding  Methley

Parish History
METHLEY (St. Oswald), a parish, in the Lower division of the wapentake of Agbrigg, W. riding of York, 7 miles (E. S. E.) from Leeds; containing 1702 inhabitants. The parish is bounded on the south by the Calder, that river here forming a confluence with the Aire, which is on the east. It comprises 3336 a. 2r. 20p.,where of about three-fourths are arable; the soil is in a high state of cultivation, and the scenery is richly diversified. Some coal-pits here have been lately worked out. Methley Park, the residence of the Earl of Mexborough, originally a castel lated edifice surrounded by a moat, has been much enlarged by the present earl, and is now a stately and elegant mansion. The village is irregularly built, and some of the houses are ancient: there is a small trade in malt. The Midland railway runs through the parish, and is joined in the vicinity by the York and North-Midland line, and also by the Leeds and Manchester line. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £25. 8. 6½., and in the patronage ofthe Crown, in right of the duchy of Lancaster; net income, £908, arising from 374 acres of land allotted at the inclosure in lieu of tithes. The church is partly inthe decorated, but chiefly in the later, English style, with a square embattled tower and well-proportioned spire; over the south entrance is a statue of the tutelar saint, and the interior contains some ancient and interesting monuments. There are places of worship for Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists.

From: Lewis, Samuel A., A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp. 295-298. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51145 Date accessed: 14 September 2011..

Civil Registration
Birth, marriages and deaths were kept by the government, from July 1837 to the present day. The civil registration article tells more about these records. There are several Internet sites with name lists or indexes. A popular site is FreeBMD.

Church records
To find the names of the neighbouring parishes, use England Jurisdictions 1851. In this site, search for the name of the parish, click on the location "pin", click Options and click List contiguous parishes.

This ancient parish (AP) was created before 1813. Church of England records began in 1559.

Contributor: Include here information for parish registers, Bishop’s Transcripts, nonconformist and other types of church records, such as parish chest records. Add the contact information for the office holding the original records. Add links to the Family History Library Catalog showing the film numbers in their collection.

Census records
Contributor: Include an overview if there is any unique information, such as the census for X year was destroyed. Add a link to online sites for indexes and/or images. Also add a link to the Family History Library Catalog showing the film numbers in their collection.

Probate records
Records of wills, administrations, inventories, indexes, etc. were filed by the court with jurisdiction over this parish. Go to Yorkshire Probate Records to find the name of the court having primary jurisdiction. Scroll down in the article to the section Court Jurisdictions by Parish.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps are a visual look at the locations in England. Gazetteers contain brief summaries about a place.


 * England Jurisdictions 1851
 * Vision of Britain

Web sites
Contributor: Add any relevant sites that aren’t mentioned above.