Acklam, Middlesbrough

Acklam was referred to as "Aclun" in the 1086 Domesday Book. It is believed that the name is Anglo-Saxon Old English for "place at the oak clearings" or "place of oaks".[2][3] A precursor to a parish , the 'manor' of 11 gold tax-able ploughland in Acklam and Ingleby Barwick, what would have been equally largest settlements in these plough-lands at the time. This manor’s area had previously been owned by Earl Siward with the area passed to Hugh Earl of Chester in 1086.

This manor’s jurisdiction extended over 24 plough-lands in Coulby farm, Hemlington, Stainton, Thornton, Maltby and Thornaby. Also listed were the later abandoned Stainsby and a Cold Ingleby, a settlement thought to have been on cold pool beck west of Newby and between Thornton and Seamer.[4][5]

To the west of current Acklam, is the abandoned medieval settlement of Stainsby, deserted by 1757. Today this amounts to little more than a series of grassy mounds near the A19 road.[6]

In the Manor area, Robert Malet had a ploughland and the king also had 3 ploughlands, royal lands included in Robert de Brus’ fee-ing. When Malet’s son died in a pub, the White Ship, around 1120 meant all lands went to the king.

An agreement between Whitby Abbey and Guisborough Priory, by 1138, mentions the 4 ploughlands in Acklam held by the line of Robert de Bruces. Last in the line of Brus, Robert I of Scotland, in 1279 held a knight's fee of half a ploughland along with three parts of a knight's fee between 1284–5.

Over-lording of Acklam came to Lucy de Marmaduke (nee Brus), Lucy de Thweng and, in 1346, to Lucy and John Darcy. Acklam passed down the Darcy line until Sir Richard Strangways, son of Lucy and John's great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth, overlorded until his death in 1488. Thomas Boynton had gained powers as lord and tenant from Richard, upon Richards death overlordship ended.[7]

Hugh son of Norman, Earl Hugh's tenant in 1086, was thought to be succeeded by Alvered, or Alfred, in about 1120. Roger, son of Alvered's grandson, William de Acklam had two daughters. Joan was sole heir after her sister's death:

• Joan married Ingram de Boynton.
• Their heir, William de Boynton, in 1284–5 was lord and had been living in Acklam since atleast 1256.
• Ingram, William’s son had became lord by 1303.
• Son Walter followed, until 1340,
• Thomas and Katherine 1365
• Sir Thomas Boynton II, succeeded in 1402
• Thomas's son, Henry, was executed three years later for joining the Percy rebellion.

The manor area was merged with Kirk Leavington, under Roger Thornton and was in his possession in 1428, later reverting to the Boynton line:

• William, Henry’s second son, is said to have held the area after the death of his brother Thomas.[8]

In 1460-1 Thomas son of Thomas, also heir of William, died as lord of Acklam.

• From his son Henry, who was dead in 1495, the manor came in direct line to Henry's grandson Matthew, seised at his death in 1540, when he left a son Thomas, aged three.
• Thomas was succeeded in January 1581 or 1582 by his son and heir Francis, lord in 1613 and thought to last until 1617.
• Twenty years later Acklam was sold by his son Sir Matthew Boynton, baronet, to William Hustler.[9]

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this once tiny village passed from Stokesley Rural District, to Middlesbrough Rural District and was eventually incorporated into the county borough of Middlesbrough during the early 20th century.[10]