HINDERWELL, a parish in the eastern division of
the liberty of LANGBAURGH, North riding of the county
of YORK, comprising the townships of Hinderwell and
Roxby, and containing 1719 inhabitants, of which number,
1483 are in the township of Hinderwell, 9 miles
(N.W. by W.) from Whitby. The living is a rectory,
in the archdeaconry of Cleveland, and diocese of York,
rated in the king's books at £ 15. Thomas Smith, Esq.
was patron in 1823. The church is dedicated to St.
Hilda. In the church-yard is a spring of pure water,
called St. Hilda's well, near which it is said she had a
retreat that still retains her name. In 1603, a Turkish
ship, infected with the plague, was wrecked upon this
coast, and communicated the disease to the village,
where it raged for six weeks, carrying off several of
the inhabitants.