Easedike (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Estdik; Easdike

In the civil parish of Wighill.
In the historic county of Yorkshire.
Modern Authority of North Yorkshire.
1974 county of North Yorkshire.
Medieval County of Yorkshire Ainsty & York.

OS Map Grid Reference: SE47414535
Latitude 53.90218° Longitude -1.27992°

Easedike has been described as a probable Fortified Manor House, and also as a probable Pele Tower.

There are uncertain remains.

Description

Site of a deserted medieval village first referred to as Estdik in 1254, the stronghold of the FitzAlans, and occupied into the 17th century. The remains have been very disturbed by modern development. Earthworks, including embanked enclosures visible on air photographs, survive to the north and south of Easedike Farm. Possibly also the site of a manor house or fortified house. (PastScape)

Described and shown on plan by Speight as the site of an old manor-house or peel-tower with terracing and traces of extensive buildings, the remains of 'the ancient strong-hold' of the Fitz-Alans and Stapletons, apparently occupied down to the beginning of C17. (PastScape ref. Speight)

The site of an old manor-house or peel-tower. Standing between the words of Healaugh Priory and a bend in the river Wharfe, this site was well chosen to guard the road between Wighill and Tadcaster against cattle-lifters and forays. In front of the long-demolished tower, and just below it, are traces of extensive buildings being the remains of the ancient stronghold of the Fitz Alans and Stapletons, and this building appears to have been occupied down to the commencement of the 17th century. (Speight 1902)

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 54739.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) MNY17014.

Websites (Gatehouse is not responsible for the content of external websites.)
- Beresford's Lost Villages
Books
- Beresford, Maurice and Hurst, John G. (eds), 1971, Deserted medieval villages: studies (Lutterworth Press) p. 211
  Speight, Harry, 1902, Lower Wharfedale (London: Elliot Stock) p. 329 online copy
Periodical Articles
- Beresford, Maurice, 1952-5, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 38 p. 231

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Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
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