Moorsholm

MOORSHOLM, or Moorsham, a township, in the parish of Skelton, union of Guisborough, E. division of the liberty of Langbaurgh, N. riding of York, 6 miles (E. by S.) from Guisborough; containing, with Girrick, 316 inhabitants. Moorsham Magna and Parva, which now together form the township, were anciently two distinct manors, and at the time of the Domesday survey, wherein the places are styled Morehusum, were held by the Earl of Morton; they afterwards came, by grant of the Conqueror, to the family of de Brus, and from them descended to the Thwengs, Lumleys, and others. The name is probably derived from the situation of the township on the border of an extensive moor, over which the road from Whitby to Guisborough now runs. The area of Moorsholm is about 7,075 acres, of which 2,806 are common or waste land: the village is seated near a mountain rivulet which pursues a winding course northward; and about a mile to the south is Freeburg hill, a detached mountain of conical form, which appears to have been in very ancient times a place for assembling and transacting business of public importance. The tithes have been commuted for £180, payable to the Archbishop of York. There is a meeting-house for dissenters.

Extract from: A Topographical Dictionary of England comprising the several counties, cities, boroughs, corporate and market towns, parishes, and townships..... 7th Edition, by Samuel Lewis, London, 1848.