ASKRIGG, a market-town and chapelry in the parish
of AYSGARTH, western division of the wapentake
of HANG, North riding of the county of YORK, 57 miles
(W.N.W.) from York, and 247 (N.W. by N.) from London,
containing 765 inhabitants. The town is situated
on an eminence rising from the northern bank of the
river Ure, and the surrounding country exhibits some
fine waterfalls and picturesque scenery: it was formerly
a place of considerable note, but has fallen into decay;
there are a flax and a wool-carding mill. In the neighbourhood
are lead mines, but they are not very productive.
The market is on Thursday; and fairs are held
on May llth, the first Thursday in June, and October
28th. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
of Richmond, and diocese of Chester, endowed
with £200 private benefaction, £400 royal bounty, and
£1000 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the
Vicar of Aysgarth. The chapel is an ancient structure,
dedicated to St. Oswald. There is a place of worship
for Wesleyan Methodists. Almshouses were founded
and endowed, in 1807, by Christopher Alderson, for six
poor widows of the townships of Askrigg and Low Abbotside,
each of whom has a stipend of £10 per annum.
In this township is the free grammar school of Yorebridge,
founded by Anthony Besson, in the 43rd of
Elizabeth, witji an endowment of £64. 10. per annum.