ACKWORTH CHURCH and the DUCHY of LANCASTER

In 1086 the Domesday Book gives Ackworth as having a Church which belongs to Ilbert de Lacy of Pontefract Castle.

The last of the Lacy family died in 1311 leaving only a daughter, Alesia, who had married Thomas, Earl of Lancaster in 1294, thus Ackworth reverted to him.

In 1322 Thomas took the side against King Edward II for which he was beheaded in his own Castle at Pontefract and his lands confiscated by the crown, thus Ackworth became part of the Duchy of Lancaster.

From then on we see that Ackworth Park was given to the Queen of England as a Dowry, this lasted until James the first who, on the death of Queen Anne in 1619, mortgaged the Manor of Ackworth to City of London for Ninety Nine years.

In 1628 Charles the first sold Ackworth outright from the City of London to Edward Dichfield and others - the transfer was in five parts

Sale No 1
To William Lambe, Thomas Hornecastle and John Wright.
For £542 10
Land with 55 Copyhold tenants who paid a rent of £12
12 0 3/4 also 75 gate feeding in the Cow Pasture.

Sale No 2
To Mark Pickering.
For £416 4
Ackworth Park with its House or Lodge also Outgange
containing 15 acres.
6 gate feeding in the Cow Pasture.

Sale No 3
To Mark Pickering Robert Chaphainson and John Redman.
For £386
Land with 37 Copyhold tenants who paid a rent of
£9 5 1/4, with gate feeding.

Sale No 4
To Richard Harlackenden, Francis Stoner, Phillipp Baron
and William Rosse.
For £384.
The Manor House with Mills which was rented to Martin
Frobisher for £10 10 8.
Land and 4 Copyhold tenants 12 gate feeding in the Cow
Pasture. Rent from tenants 16 4 1/2.

Sale No 5
To William Pickering, Henry Pickering, Michael Lamb, Edward Hornecastle,
For £1 6
All land which was left after other sales.
the above sale was not for profit, the ownership was vested in trustees, the profits to be
used to repair the Highways and relief of the Poor.

In no sale was the Church sold so it still remains the property of the Duchy of Lancaster.