Bulmer, North Yorkshire

Bulmer was the seat of the ancient wapentake of the same name, known as the Bulford wapentake in 1086.[2] The name Bulmer comes from "bull mere," a lake frequented by a bull.

The manor is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.[2] It is recorded as having been held in 1066 by a Northmann and Ligulf.[2] It was awarded by the King with hundreds of others to his half-brother Count Robert de Mortain, whose tenant was Nigel Fossard.[2][3]

The Bulmer family take their name from Bulmer. Ansketil de Bulmer is the first recorded member of the Bulmer family, who lived in the area in the twelfth century. By the nineteenth century the lordship of the manor had passed to the Earls of Carlisle, whose residence was at nearby Castle Howard. A monument to George William Frederick Howard can be found on top of Bulmer Hill just outside the village.[4]

The village lies within the Thirsk and Malton UK Parliament constituency. It is also within the Hovingham and Sheriff Hutton electoral division of North Yorkshire County Council.[5] It is part of the Derwent ward of Ryedale District Council.[6]

The village is situated two miles west of the A64 and 6.13 miles (9.87 km) south-west of Malton at an elevation of around 263 feet (80 m) above sea level. The nearest settlements are Welburn 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the west; Sheriff Hutton 3.09 miles (4.97 km) to the east; Terrington 2.88 miles (4.63 km) to the north-east and Whitwell-on-the-Hill 1.78 miles (2.86 km) to the south-east.[5]

To the west of the village is Bulmer Beck that runs southwards to eventually join the River Derwent.

In the late nineteenth century the population was recorded as 231, which has decreased to 174 according to the 2001 UK Census.[4] Of the total population, 143 were over the age of sixteen, with 77 in full-time employment. The 2001 UK Census showed that there were 78 dwellings in the village.[7]

Visually, the village has changed little during history; however the small village school at the bottom of School Lane is now the village hall. The village also used to be home to a pub, blacksmith, shop and agricultural engineering workshop; these are all now closed.

Primary education can be found in the nearby villages of Sheriff Hutton, Welburn, Terrington and Thornton-le-Clay. Secondary Education can be found at Malton School or Norton College.

Bulmer church, originating from around the 10th century, still remains and services are held once every Sunday; the church also contains the last remaining tablet of a Methodist chapel, which used to be present in the village.

There is a church in the village, dedicated to St Martin, a soldier saint and Bishop of Tours. There used to be a Methodist Chapel in the village that was built around 1842.[4]

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