History of Haeldlesey. By the Rev. J. N. Worsfold. (Elliot
Stock.)—Haddlesey is a village near Selby, in the valley of the Aire, a river which seems to have the habit of causing severe inundations (in October, 1892, two-thirds of the parish were under water). Its chief interest in history arises from its including within its borders the ancient foundation of the Templars, which has the name of Temple Hurst. This pre- ceptory was one of sixty properties which the Order held in Yorkshire alone. It is not strange that when the idea of rescuing the Holy Sepulchre from the infidels had been aban- doned, men began to ask what purpose so wealthy a body ful- filled. The end came early in the fourteenth century. The inventory of the possessions at Temple Hurst, with the prices attached, is highly interesting. The total amount reaches about £124, chiefly for live-stock and corn, with agricultural instru- ments. The furniture of the chapel was very simple, hooka,
plate, and vestments being valued at about £2 10s. Arable land was valued at is. per acre, meadow at 3s., and pasture at 2s. A windmill is valued at 13s. 4d. per annum. The dis- proportion in value between the two, now so marked, was then much greater. In a dependency of the preceptory, we find thirty-four acres of arable valued at 118. 4d., and fifteen of meadow land at 60s. The first church at Haddlesey dated from 1327; it was built by the inhabitants, and rebuilt by the land- owners. We cannot help thinking that Mr. Worsfold would have consulted the convenience of his readers more if he had put all that he had to say about the church together. What there is is not very satisfactory. The writer has taken much pains, it is clear, with his work, but he seems to lack the gift of clear exposition.—With this volume may be mentioned a second edition, "greatly enlarged," of Wherstead : its History, Territorial and Memorial. By F. Barham Zinoke. (Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.)—Mr. Zincke, who has died since the publication of this volume, modestly entitled his work, "Some Materials for the History," &c. As a matter of fact, it is a book which goes far beyond the scope indicated by its title. Mutatismutandis,it applies to similarly situated parishes, and may be profitably made a guide by any one who wishes to inquire into the history of his own locality.
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