Bessingby

Bessingby appears to be a site of Prehistoric and Roman occupation. Fragments of Neolithic axes have been discovered,{{cite PastScape|mnumber=910897 |mname= |accessdate=18 April 2012}} and cropmarks indicating trackways, ditch boundaries and enclosures have been seen at Bessingby High Field, {{convert|0.5|mi|km|1}} to the south of the village, and just to the east, near to the A165 road.{{cite PastScape|mnumber=1191551 |mname= |accessdate=18 April 2012}}{{cite PastScape|mnumber=1192892 |mname= |accessdate=18 April 2012}} A further archeological site is that of a now non-existent water mill, noted as extant in 1418, that could have been sited on Gypsey Race.{{cite PastScape|mnumber=910843 |mname= |accessdate=18 April 2012}}

In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village is written as “Basingebi”or “Basinghebi”. It consisted of 3 villagers, 1 freeman and 4 burgesses, 37 ploughlands, 1.5 plough teams, a meadow of {{convert|8|acre|km2}} and a church. In 1066 lordship of the manor was held by Earl Morcar, being transferred to King William in 1086.{{OpenDomesday|OS=TA1565|name=bessingby|display=Bessingby|accessdate=18 April 2012}}[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=quicksearch&query=bessingby&catid=24&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=* "Documents Online: Bessingby, Yorkshire"], Folio: 299v, 381v Great Domesday Book; The National Archives. Retrieved 18 April 2012 The Conqueror gave the village to Gilbert de Gant, his nephew; its ownership was later transferred to Bridlington Priory during the reign of Henry I."History, topography, and directory of East Yorkshire (with Hull)". T Bulmer & Co. 1892Thompson, J (1821); "Historical Sketches of Bridlington", p. 37; reprinted BiblioBazaar, LLC (2010). {{ISBN|1141836459}}

In 1808 Benjamin Pitt Capper recorded 17 houses and a Bessingby population of 87.Capper, Benjamin Pit (1808) A topographical dictionary of the United Kingdom; Bes – Bet; Richard Phillips, Blackfiars; reprinted 2011; {{ISBN|1241313458}} By 1837 Moule noted 83 inhabitants, and St Magnus's church, rebuilt in 1766, containing monuments to H. Hudson (d.1826), and his wife Lady Ann (d.1818). Hudson's seat was Bessingby Hall at the north of the village,Moule, Thomas (1837); The English Counties Delineated: A Topical Description of England, Volume 2; p. 405. George Virtue, LondonAllen, Thomas (1849); A New and Complete History of the County of York, Volume 4, p. 51; reprinted BiblioBazaar, LLC (2010). {{ISBN|114188867X}} inherited by his son Sir James Hudson (1810–1885), a private secretary under William IV, later in Foreign Service at Rio de Janeiro and Turin.Fleming, John; The Burlington Magazine Vol. 115, No. 838 (January 1973), pp. 4–17. The Burlington Magazine Publications Ltd. In July 1825 William Scoresby, Arctic explorer and scientist, became curate of Bessingby, before leaving to become Chaplain of the Mariners' Church, a floating ministry at Liverpool, in November 1826.Kverndal, Roald (1986); Seamen's Missions: Their Origin and Early Growth, p. 288; William Carey Library. {{ISBN|0878084401}}Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; The People's Magazine: An Illustrated Miscellany for Family Reading, Volume 5, p,364; reprinted 2011. {{ISBN|1173800786}} In 1892 Bessingby and its parish contained 171 inhabitants, within an area of {{convert|1269|acre|km2}}. Agricultural production was chiefly wheat, oats and beans. By then, the manor, Hall and estate had been purchased from the Hudson family by George Wright JP, who provided in his will for the construction of the new village church, St Magnus.{{NHLE|num=1083689 |desc=Church of Church of St Magnus|accessdate=18 April 2012}}

On 1 April 1935 the civil parish was abolished and merged with Bridlington and Carnaby.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10398060|title=Relationships and changes Bessingby AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=6 August 2023}}

File:Bessingby Hall - geograph.org.uk - 1223465.jpg

Bessingby's Grade II* listed Anglican church is dedicated to St Magnus. Built in 1893–94 by Temple Moore, in 14th-century style, it replaced an earlier 1767 brick church. A crenellated tower with short steeple sits centrally between nave and chancel. Detailing is of Decorated Gothic style, with stained glass by Kempe, dated 1900. There is a 1570 cup by Robert Beckwith, and a 1704 paten by Seth Lofthouse. Tablet monuments are to the Hudson family, by R. J. Wyatt. Pevsner's view of the church is that "It is competent, but no more".Pevsner, Nikolaus; The Buildings of England. Yorkshire: York and the East Riding pp. 168, 169; Penguin (1972); reprinted 1975, Pevsner Architectural Guides. {{ISBN|0140710434}}

Bessingby Hall, Grade II listed, was built by Thomas Cundy in 1807, in yellow brick with sash windows and Grecian portico. Further listed buildings attached to the Hall are its former Keepers' Cottage, and a pigeoncote, both 17th century.{{NHLE|num=1031359 |desc=Bessingby Hall|accessdate=18 April 2012}}{{NHLE|num=1083645 |desc=Formerly Keeper's Cottage to Bessingby Hall|accessdate=18 April 2012}}{{NHLE|num=1346531 |desc=The Pigeoncote to Bessingby Hall|accessdate=18 April 2012}}

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{{East Yorkshire|state=collapsed}}

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Category:Villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire

Category:Former civil parishes in the East Riding of Yorkshire

Category:Bridlington