The village of Crosby Ravensworth is remarkably picturesque, being
situated near the junction of the stream from Odindale with the
Lyvennet; these streams afford marked features of natural beauties, and
are enhanced by the splendid sycamore trees in the neighbourhood of the
Church and Hall. It is also a very good specimen of villages arranged
under the feudal times, when the resident lord of the manor exercised
an almost despotic sway over the tenants and other inhabitants. The
Hall, therefore, as the manorial residence, would be a centre near
which were the dwellings of the villagers. One series of buildings is
known as Tenter Row; probably a corruption of The Enter Row, being at
one entrance of the village, and thus called in contradistinction to
Low Row at the other end. In these would live the tenants immediately
dependent on the Hall, while others, not so closely connected, resided
further up the village. There is the church also, impropriated to
Whitby Abbey by one of the earliest manorial lords. It is dedicated,
according to Randal Sanderson, to St. Lawrence; but Rev. Thomas Machell
says it was dedicated to St. Leonard. This latter might originate from
that hospital at York having lands here. There is a tradition of some
religious buildings having existed on the north side of the churchyard,
and a great portion of the land belonged; and from it must have
originated the names of Monks' Barn, Monks' Bridge and Monks' Garth.
Opposite the church is the vicarage, a truly characteristic building;
it has undergone many alterations and additions under the late vicars,
but is especially indebted to Rev. G. F. Weston, who has enlarged and
laid out the grounds with admirable taste.
[Illustration: CROSBY RAVENSWORTH.