Sir Christopher Sykes , Hull University, Brynmor Jones Library Papers of the Sykes Family of Sledmere Catalogue Ref. DDSY; DDSY(2); DDSY(3); DDSY(4); DSY Creator(s): Sykes family of Sledmere, East Riding of Yorkshire [Access Conditions] Open [from Administrative History] Christopher Sykes was born in 1749. He was MP for Beverley 1784-90 and though he supported Pitt during the regency crisis and voted for parliamentary reform he is not known to have spoken in the house. In 1770 he made a very fortuitous marriage with Elizabeth Egerton of Tatton whose inheritance of £17,000 from her father was hugely augmented by her inheriting her brother's Cheshire estates and another £60,000 from her aunt in 1780. Christopher Sykes sold off shipping interests and government stock and he and his wife built up the Sledmere estate. They frantically bought land and enclosed huge areas for cultivation with artificial fertilizers. In the 1780s Elizabeth's third inheritance was ploughed into building two new wings to the house and Christopher Sykes not only worked closely with the plasterer, Joseph Rose, on the interior decoration, but was largely responsible for the exterior design after seeking plans from both John Carr and Samuel Wyatt. The grounds were landscaped along the lines of plans by Capability Brown and 1000 acres of trees were planted. The entire village of Sledmere was relocated. Christopher Sykes clearly visualised himself as a man who had left commerce and joined the landed classes. A famous picture of him and his wife, painted by George Romney in the 1780s, depicts the couple surveying their parkland estates stretching away to the horizon; Christopher Sykes holds in his hands spectacles and an estate plan. He had an engraving done of the vast library he built and sent copies of it to friends (Foster, Pedigrees; Namier & Brooke, The house of commons, iii, p.514; Hobson, 'Sledmere and the Sykes family'; English, The great landowners, pp.28-9, 62-6; Cornforth, Sledmere House, p.4; Syme, 'Sledmere Hall', pp. 43-6; Pevsner & Neave, York and the East Riding, p.693; Popham, 'Sir Christopher Sykes at Sledmere' I & II). [from Scope and Content] DDSY contains estate papers for the East Riding of Yorkshire in this order: manorial records for Balkholme (1608-1659); conveyance of Barmby on the Moor (1861); Beverley (1385-1784) including early title deeds and a letter and account book of Christopher Sykes as MP for Beverley 1784-9; Bishop Wilton (1379-1880) including court rolls for 1379-80 and the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, an account roll of Robert Hall, steward of the prebend, for 1468-9, surrenders and admissions in the manor court 1605-89, sales and conveyances, correspondence of Timothy Mortimer and Richard Darley, pedigrees of the Darley and Rogerson families, an original bundle relating to the estates of Roger Gee, eighteenth century farm leases, the marriage settlements of Catherine Darley and John Wentworth (1703) and John Toke and Margaret Roundell (1762), and several seventeenth-century wills of the Smith, Darley, Sanderson, Hansby and Hildyard families; papers about Bridlington pier (1789); Brigham (1683-1864) including eighteenth-century wills of the Brigham and Wilberforce families, the sale in 1794 to Christopher Sykes and its transfer in 1797 to his second son, Tatton Sykes, and eighteenth-century farm leases; Burton Pidsea (1601-1843) including the wills of Christopher Wilson (1640) and William Ford (1828) and the transfer of title in 1738 from the Wilson family to Mark Kirkby; a plan of Cottam (1760); Croom (1607-1821) including the letters patents granting to the earl of Clanricard the rectory and tithes of Sledmere in 1607, seventeenth and eighteenth century papers of the Rousby family and the sale of Croom in 1812 to Mark Masterman Sykes; Dalton Holme (1879); Derwent (drainage and navigation) (1772-1800) including 75 letters of Christopher Sykes, 2nd baronet; Driffield (1790, 1860); Drypool (1773-1794); Duggleby (1669-1800); Eastrington (1659); tenancy agreements and the 1916 particulars of sale for Eddlethorpe (1858-1916); a plan of Etton (1819); Fimber (1566-1884) including leases from 1853 and 22 marriage settlements and wills largely of the eighteenth century from the Horsley, Ford, Hardy, Layton, Callis, Edmond, Holtby, Jefferson, Coole, Langley, Foulis and Willoughby families; Fitling (1696-1795) including papers of the Johnson, Thompson and Blaydes families; Fosham (1768-1812); Fridaythorpe (1805-1877) including some papers of the Harper family; Ganstead (1803); Garton on the Wolds (1598-1917) including the Garton enclosure act of 1774, the Edward Topham case in Chancery in the 1790s, leases from the 1780s and eighteenth-century wills and other family papers of the Towse, Barmby, Graham, Kirk, Staveley, Horsley, Cook, Lakeland, Arundell, Sever, Shepherd, Forge, Overend, Taylor, Boyes and Widdrington families; manor of Garton on the Wolds (1703-1780) including rentals, court rolls and verdicts; East and West Heslerton and Sherburn (1535-1877) including manorial records, deeds, leases and rentals from 1780, papers relating to the estates of the Strickland family of Boynton, the marriage settlement of Francis Spink and Mary Langdale (1643) and the wills of Marmaduke Darby (1665), Marmaduke Dodsworth (1694), Thomas Spink (1741), Peter Dowsland (1725), John Davies (1730), Mary Brown (1748), David Cross (1843), Christopher Cross (1853) and John Owtram (1776); Hilderthorpe (1768, 1791); Hilston (1584-1796) including leases 1781-1796, the marriage settlements of James Hewitt and Jane Carlisle (1669) and Randolphus Hewitt and Catherine Nelson (1731) and the will of Randolphus Carlisle (1744); leases for Hollym (1765-1795); leases for Hotham (1772-1776); Howden (1625, 1773); Huggate (1767-1839) including the title documents of John Hustler and the wills of William Tuffnell Jolliff (1796), Charles Newman (1815), George Anderton (1817) and William Wastell (1836); Hull (1603-1839) including a schedule of deeds about the Sykes house in High Street, documents about the Hull Dock Company, the correspondence of William Wilberforce and James Shaw about the misappropriation of charity funds, the marriage settlement of William Fowler and Jane Viepont (1685), documents relating to the Blaydes, Hebden and Fowler families and the will of Robert Stephenson (1603); Hunsley (1588); Hutton Cranswick (1578-1813) including leases from 1780, the marriage settlements of Marmaduke Jenkinson and Phillip (sic) Hammond (1672) and Hesketh Hobman and Elizabeth Carlisle (1700) and the wills of Robert Popplewell (1614), George Coatsforth (1680), Elizabeth Hobman (1728) and Hesketh Hobman (1711); Kennythorpe (1677-1752); Kilham (1633-1813) including leases from 1792 and an abstract of the title of John Preston; manorial records of Kilpin (1581-1636); Kirby Grindalthorpe and Mowthorpe (1545-1880) including a pedigree of the Peirson family, leases from 1806, the marriage settlements of William Peirson and Susannah Thorndike (1637), William Peirson and Elizabeth Conyers (1680), Nathaniel Towry and Katherine Hassell (1703), Luke Lillingston and Catherine Towry (1710), Luke Lillingston and Williema Joanna Dottin (1769), Abraham Spooner and Elizabeth Mary Agnes Lillingston (1797), Mark Masterman Sykes and Mary Elizabeth Egerton (1814) and the wills of Nathaniel Towry (1703), Luke Lillingston (1771) and Robert Snowball (1805); Kirkburn (1566-1861) including the 1628 grant of wardship and marriage of Thomas Young to Jane Young by Charles I, the marriage settlement of Thomas and Barbara Martin (1757), the wills of Ann Young (1714), Charles Cartwright (1752), Ann Hall (1698), Isaac Thompson (1747), Abraham Thompson (1775) and leases from 1852; Langtoft (1791-1880); Linton (1856-1877); Lockington (1772, 1791); Lund (1596); report of St William's Catholic School in Market Weighton (1910); Menethorpe (1907); Middleton on the Wolds (1655-1812) including papers of the Manby family and leases from 1774; Molescroft (c.1300-1812) including the earliest document in the archive - a gift of circa 1300 - a pedigree of the Ashmole family, lists of deeds and leases, the marriage settlements of Thomas Taylor and Elizabeth Hargrave (1700), William Taylor and Rebecca Smailes (1615), John Taylor and Bridget Tomlin (1637) and William Taylor and Anna Aythorp and the wills of John Taylor (1686) and Catherine Dawson (1784); a Myton lease (1780); North Cave leases (1772-1776); North Dalton (1722-1812); North Frodingham (1806, 1870); Owstwick (1305-1801) including medieval deeds, leases from 1779 and the wills of Stephen Christie (1551), William Burkwood (1636), Robert Witty (1684), Mary Witty (1691) and Francis Hardy (1736); Owthorne (16th century); Riccall (1790-1795); Rimswell (1725, 1786); Roos (1558-1786) including rentals and the will of Jane Hogg (n.d.); Rotsea leases (1854-1861); Sancton leases (1770-1797); Settringtton enclosure (1797-1810); Sherburn (1795); Skelton (17th century); Sledmere (1320-1926) including papers relating to the school, poor rate assessment, water supply, tithes, leases and rentals, a history of the descent of Sledmere, the correspondence of Christopher Sykes, 2nd baronet, with Joseph Sykes of West Ella and Kirk Ella (see DDKE) and other members of the local gentry including Timothy Mortimer, attorney, the marriage settlements of Robert and Ann Crompton (1666), Robert Crompton and Mary Fawsitt (1685), John Goodricke and Mary Smith (1710), John Taylor and Elene Morwen (1546) and John Wilkinson and Mary Hornsey (1730) and the wills of Robert Taylor (1587), John Taylor (1682), Lovell Lazenby (1728), Elizabeth Majeson (1677), John Meason (1709), Mark Mitchell (1722), John Towse (1698), John Hardy (1709), Lovell Lazenby (1712), Thomas Lazenby (1727), Joseph Roper ((1705), Clare Hayes (1716), Henry Gillan (1724), James Hardy (1631), Thomas Watson (1698) and Frances Wilson (1734); tenancy agreements for South Frodingham (1774-1812); Thirkleby and Linton (1756-1861) including the 1834 purchase by Tatton Sykes from Lord Middleton, leases from 1854, the marriage settlements of Henry Willoughby and Dorothy Cartwright (1756) and Henry Willoughby and Jane Lawley (1793) and the will of Robert Lawley (1825); Thirtleby (1751); Thixendale (1528-1877) including an abstract of the Payler family title, papers relating to the Richardson and Elwicke families, a pedigree of the Leppington family, the correspondence of Timothy Mortimer, leases from 1790, the marriage settlements of John Donkin and Sarah Simpkin (1733), William Sharp and Jane Thompson (1704), Thomas Beilby and Jane Brown (1690), Christopher Marshall and Ellen Utley (1731), John Singleton and Ann Jackson (1769), William Powlett and Lady Lovesse Delaforce (1689) and Robert Brigham and Anne Williamson (1727) and the wills of William Vescy (1713), Edmund Dring (1708), Ann Blackbeard (1732), Ann Nicholson (1762) Robert Kirby (1785), William Sharp (1745), John Leppington (1770), William Marshall (1770), John Boyes (1771), Robert Brigham (1767), Ralph Wharram (1720), William Powlett (1756), Watkinson Payler (1705), Mary Payler (1752), John Ruston (1806) and William Marshall (1832); Tibthorp (1610-1861) including papers of the Harrison and Hudson familes, leases from 1774 and the will of William Beilby (1691); Wansford (1604-1803) including an abstract of the title of William St Quinton, an original bundle of papers relating to the collapse of John Boyes' carpet manufactury and the involvement of the Sykes family and John Lockwood, leases from 1787, the marriage settlements of William Metcalfe and Ann Crompton (1650) and William St Quinton and Charlotte Fane (1758) and the wills of Thomas Bainton (1732), William St Quinton (1723), George Ion (1812) and Jonathan Ion (1806); Waxholme (1722, 1796); Weaverthorpe and Helperthorpe (1607-1880) including manorial records 1686-1785, leases from 1774, the marriage settlements of Richard Kirkby and Judith Dring (1667) and Richard Kirkby and Ruth Helperthorpe (1670) and the wills of Thomas Heblethwaite (1668), Edmund Dring (1708), Richard Kirkby (1640), John Kirkby (1728), Richard Kirkby (1790), Elizabeth Newlove (1781), John Ness (1791), Ann Ness (1813), William Beilby (1716) and John Beilby (1764); West Lutton (1844); Wetwang (1688-1898) including the 1773 purchase from the Gee family, the 1788 petition of Ann Robson for charity, rentals and court records, leases from 1780, pedigrees of the Newlove and Wharram families, and the wills of Ann Wilson (1776), Thomas Green (1749), Mary Napton (1789), John Newlove (1786), George Stabler (1822), Francis Newlove (1808) and Betty Newlove (1850); Wheldrake (1781); Yedingham (1798) papers in the dispute between Christopher Sykes and Richard Langley. [from Scope and Content] Estate papers are as follows: a plan of Brigham (1813); Faxfleet (1752); a plan of Fosham (1811) and a letter about its sale to John Lockwood (1820); Hedon (1912); letters about Helperthorpe and Hilderthorpe to John Lockwood (1820); a plan of Hutton Cranswick (1812); Keyingham (1732-1884) including an abstract of the title of Ann Raikes, some manorial records and the will of Stephen Mainprice (1781); sale particulars of Kilham (1813); Langtoft (1634-1861) including the will of Richard Maltby (1743); a plan of Middleton-on-the-Wolds (1812); a sales bill for Molescroft (1819); a plan of North Dalton (1812); Owstwick (1704-1913) including the pedigrees and some family papers of the Allatson, Coppinger and Burgh families, the marriage settlement of Edward Sewell and Hannah Foster (1837) and her death certificate and will, the wills of Samuel Dean (1825) and Joseph Foster (1835) and the conveyance of Owstwick to Tatton Sykes in 1826 for £2837; Ryhill (1736-1843) including the wills of Mary Fallowfield (1760) and William Shields (1785), the burial certificates of John Rank (1785), Thomas Harrison (1808), William Rank (1821) and Mary Rank (n.d.) and the marriage settlement of John Bell and Frances Brown (1778); press cuttings about the dispute between Tatton Sykes and the vicar in 1898; a survey of Thixendale (1814); Thorngumbauld (1614-1855) including certificates of baptism, marriage, burial and title abstracts of the Standidge and Slater families; papers relating to the institution of Edwin Sandes to the prebendary for Wetwang (1582-1602).b
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