DRAX, a parish in the lower division of the wapentake
of BARKSTONE-ASH, West riding of the county
of YORK, comprising the townships of Camblesforth,
Drax, Long Drax, and Newland, and containing 1083
inhabitants, of which number, 370 are in the township
of Drax, 4 miles (N. N. E.) from Snaith. The living is
a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of York, rated in the king's books at £4, endowed with
£600 royal bounty, and £1600 parliamentary grant,
and in the patronage of the Crown. The church is dedicated
to St. Peter. The free grammar school was erected
in 1669, by Charles Reed, Esq., and endowed by him
with £2000, for teaching all the poor children of the
parish, and for occasionally putting out apprentices;
he farther directed, should any be found capable, that
they were to be sent to one of the Universities. He also
erected six almshouses, to be kept in repair from the same
fund, for three aged persons of each sex. This benefactor
when an infant, was discovered lying among some reeds,
and was, from that circumstance, named Reed; having
been brought up by the parish, he was put to the sea
service at the age of sixteen, and after fifty years absence
returned opulent, and testified his gratitude to his preservers
by the above benevolent acts.