WELL, a parish in the eastern division of the
wapentake of HANG, North riding of the county of
YORK, comprising the townships of Snape and Well,
and containing 1059 inhabitants, of which number,
370 are in the township of Well, 4 miles (S.) from
Bedale. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the
archdeaconry of Richmond and diocese of Chester,
rated in the king's books at £8. 13. 7., endowed with
£400 private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and
£1100 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of
Charles Chaplin, Esq. The church, dedicated to St
James, contains several monuments of the lords of
Snape. This place derived its name from a celebrated
well, dedicated to St. Michael, which, at all times of the
year, is supplied with water by a spring issuing from a
rock. An hospital, in honour of St. Michael the Archangel,
for a master, two priests, and twenty-four poor
brethren and sisters, was founded here, in 1342, by Sir
Ralph de Neville, Lord of Middleham, which at the dissolution
had a revenue of £42.12. 3. Thomas, Earl
of Exeter, in 1605, established a charity, called Neville's
workhouse, for the maintenance of a master and mistress
and twelve poor girls, the latter of whom are also
educated. A school for boys, and another for girls,
were founded here, and two others at Snape, in 1788,
and are supported from these funds, which amount to
about £100 per annum.