DOWNHOLME, a parish in the western division of
the wapentake of HANG, North riding of the county of
YORK, comprising the townships of Downholme, Ellerton-
Abbey, Stainton, and Walburn, and containing 251
inhabitants, of which number, 113 are in the township
of Downholme, 4 miles (S. W. by W.) from Richmond.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Richmond,
and diocese of Chester, rated in the king's books
at £5. 15. 10., endowed with £600 private benefaction,
and £600 royal bounty. John Hutton, Esq. was patron
in 1808. The church is dedicated to St. Michael.
In a fertile part of this parish, near the river Swale,
are situated the ruins of Ellerton nunnery, consisting
principally of the shell of the chapel. Tradition refers its
foundation to a person of the name of Wymer, or Wymor,
in the reign of Henry II., for nuns of the Cistercian
order: at the dissolution, its annual revenue was
estimated only at £8.