WRESSEL, a parish in the Holme-Beacon division of the wapentake of HARTHILL, East riding of the county of YORK, comprising the townships of Newsham with Brind, and Wressel with Loftsome, and containing 360 inhabitants, of which, number, 183 are in the township of Wressel with Loftsome, 3 miles (N. W.) from Howden. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of the East riding, and diocese of York, rated in the king's books at £5. 13. 9., and in the patronage of the Earl of Egremont. The church, dedicated to St. John of Beverley, is a very ancient building. Here are some remains of Wressel castle, built by Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, who was made prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury, and afterwards beheaded: this once princely mansion continued to be a seat of the Northumberland family till the civil war in the reign of Charles I., when it was demolished by order of the parliament.