WITTON (WEST), a parish in the western division
of the wapentake of HANG, North riding of the county
of YORK, 4 miles (W.) from Middleham, containing
519 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy, in
the archdeaconry of Richmond, and diocese of Chester,
endowed with £200 private benefaction, £800 royal
bounty, and. £400 parliamentary grant, and in the
patronage of Lord Bolton. The church is a small
building, supposed to have been erected in the reign
of Henry I.: from the churchyard is a delightful view
aver .Wensley-dale. Charles Robinson, in 1790, be-
queathed £250, now producing an annual income of
about £12, for teaching and clothing poor children of
West Witt on and Newbiggen. On an eminence, called
Penhill, are vestiges of an ancient castle, formerly belonging
to Ralph Fitz-Randal.