Ilton, North Yorkshire
{{Short description|Village in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|54.200|-1.71|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Ilton
| population = 50
| civil_parish = Ilton cum Pott
| unitary_england = North Yorkshire
| lieutenancy_england = North Yorkshire
| region = Yorkshire and the Humber
| constituency_westminster =
| post_town = RIPON
| postcode_district = HG4
| postcode_area = HG
| dial_code = 01765
| os_grid_reference = SE191782
| static_image = File:Plane Tree Farm - geograph.org.uk - 6138795.jpg
| static_image_caption = Farm on the village outskirts
}}
Ilton is a village in North Yorkshire, England, 3 miles south-west of Masham. It is the principal settlement in the civil parish of Ilton cum Pott. The parish includes Roundhill Reservoir. The population of the parish was estimated at 50 in 2015.{{cite web|publisher=North Yorkshire County Council|title=Population Estimates|year=2015|url=https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/sites/default/files/fileroot/About%20the%20council/North%20Yorkshire%20statistics/Parish_mid-year_population_estimates_2015.pdf|access-date=12 November 2017|archive-date=4 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604015709/https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/sites/default/files/fileroot/About%20the%20council/North%20Yorkshire%20statistics/Parish_mid-year_population_estimates_2015.pdf|url-status=dead}} The population at the 2011 Census was included with the civil parish of Healey.
History
The name is recorded in the Domesday Book as Ilcheton, meaning "settlement of a man called Ylca".{{Citation | contribution = Ilton NYorks | year = 2010 | title = The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names | editor-last = Watts | editor-first = Victor | publisher = Cambridge University Press }}
In the Middle Ages Fountains Abbey held land in Ilton, and also had a grange at Pott, {{convert|2.3|mi}} west of Ilton. Following the Dissolution in the 16th century Sir Thomas Danby acquired the land at Pott, and in 1658 a later Sir Thomas Danby bought the Ilton land, which has since formed part of the Swinton estates.{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64761 |title=Parishes: Masham |editor-first=William|editor-last=Page |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |year=1914 |work=Victoria County History. A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 1 |access-date=28 March 2016}}
Although Ilton and Pott were detached from each other, they formed a single township in Mashamshire, the large ancient parish of Masham, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Ilton cum Pott became a separate civil parish in 1866. In 1934 a large area of Masham Moor between the two parts of the parish was added to the parish.{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10448062|title=Vision of Britain: Masham Moor|access-date=12 November 2017}} Until 1974 Ilton was part of Masham Rural District (before 1934 Masham Urban District). In 1974 the parish was transferred to the new county of North Yorkshire.
From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the Borough of Harrogate, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.
== Governance ==
The parish now shares a grouped parish council, known as Fearby, Healey and District Parish Council, with Colsterdale, Ellingstring, Fearby and Healey.{{cite web|title=The Parish|publisher=Fearby Healey and District Parish Council|url=http://www.fearbyhealeydistrict-pc.org/#!the-parish/c8de|access-date=29 April 2020}}
Druids' Temple
File:Druids Temple near Ilton. - geograph.org.uk - 427.jpg
Near the village is the Druids' Temple, a replica of Stonehenge built in about 1800 by William Danby of nearby Swinton Park.{{NHLE |num=1132035 |accessdate=7 February 2012}} During a time of agricultural depression and high unemployment, Danby hired local men to construct a moderately large-scale replica of Stonehenge, working at a full shilling a day. The result is a folly of national reputation. He was less successful in hiring a silent druidic hermit to fulfill a seven-year contract, though several tried, for the promised annuity.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebivouac.co.uk/out_and_about/about_druids_temple|publisher=Bivouac Swinton|title=Druids Temple|access-date=28 November 2014|archive-date=17 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517044354/http://www.thebivouac.co.uk/out_and_about/about_druids_temple|url-status=dead}} The folly is still owned by the Swinton Estate.