GRINTON, a parish partly in the -western division
of the wapentake of HANG, and partly in the western
division of the wapentake of GILLING, North riding
of the county of YORK, 9 miles (w. by S.) from Richmond,
containing, with the chapelry of Muker, and the
townships of Melbecks and Reeth, which are in the
wapentake of Gilling, 6300 inhabitants. The living
is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Richmond,
and diocese of Chester, rated in the king's books
at £12. 5. 7., and in the patronage of the Crown. The
church, dedicated to St. Andrew, has been lately repaired;
its windows exhibit some beautiful specimens
of ancient stained glass. James Hutchinson, in 1643,
gave a school-house and dwelling-house, with other
premises, and £20 a year, for the maintenance of a
master: the annual income is £73, which is paid to the
vicar for the education of about eighty children on the
National system. There are in this extensive parish
considerable mines of iron, lead, and copper. On an
eminence near Helagh is an ancient British encampment,
approached from the east by an avenue about one hundred
and twenty yards long, formed of stones, at the
commencement of which is a large barrow, composed
of stones and gravel, and about three hundred yards
south-westward from the camp is another barrow, six
yards high; there are vestiges of other intrenchments,
and several cairns in the neighbourhood.