COXWOLD, a parish in the wapentake of BIRDFORTH, North riding of the county of YORK, comprising the chapelry of Birdforth,- and the townships of Angram- Grange, Byland cum Membris, Coxwold, Newborough, Oulston, Thornton with Baxly, Wildon-Grange, and Yearsley, and containing 1447 inhabitants, of which number, 348 are in the township of Coxwold, 5 miles (N.) from Easingwould. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Cleveland, and diocese of York, and in the patronage of G. Wombwell, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a small ancient structure, said to have been' erected so early as 700, with an octagonal tower: the chancel was rebuilt in 1777, by the Earl of Fauconberg: there is some stained glass in the windows, and within are many handsome monuments of the Belasyse family. A free grammar school was founded, in 1603, by Sir John Harte, alderman of London, who endowed it with £36. 13. 4. per annum, charged on certain lands in this county: only a few boys are instructed in writing and arithmetic, paying a small quarterage also. An hospital for ten poor men was founded, in 1696, by Thomas, Earl of Fauconberg, the endowment of which consists of a rent-charge of £ 59, and is divided among ten poor persons, only two of whom reside in the hospital, which comprises a chapel, with a small chamber above, and two apartments on each side: an hospital for eight poor women was also established here, which has long since gone to decay. There is a fair on the 25th of August. Sterne wrote his Tristram Shandy and some other works at Shandy Hall, near this place, where he resided about seven years.