Kelfield is a small village and
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
in the county of
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in Northern England.The Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas of City of York, York and North Yorkshire (district), North Yorkshire are in Yorkshire and t ...
, England. The village is situated on the northern bank of the
River Ouse, equidistant between the villages of
Riccall
Riccall is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, lying to the north of Selby and south of York. Riccall is noted for being the place where Harold Hardrada's force of invaders landed in 1066, just before the Battle of Stamfor ...
,
Cawood and
Stillingfleet, approximately north-west of
Selby
Selby is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, south of York on the River Ouse. At the 2021 Census, it had a population of 17,193.
The town was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire; from 1974 until 2023, ...
.
It was historically part of the
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, often abbreviated to the East Riding or East Yorkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and west, S ...
until 1974. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of
Selby
Selby is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, south of York on the River Ouse. At the 2021 Census, it had a population of 17,193.
The town was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire; from 1974 until 2023, ...
, it is now administered by the unitary
North Yorkshire Council
North Yorkshire Council, known between 1974 and 2023 as North Yorkshire County Council, is the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of North Yorkshire, England. Since 2023 the council has been a unitary authority, being a county coun ...
.
History

Kelfield is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as Chelchefelt,'an estate of one carucate and seven bovates... The estate of Hugh son of Baldric had land for one plough, and four villeins had a plough there.'
In 1823 Kelfield was a
township
A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...
in the civil parish of
Stillingfleet, in the
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, often abbreviated to the East Riding or East Yorkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and west, S ...
and the
Wapentake
A hundred is an administrative division that is geographically part of a larger region. It was formerly used in England, Wales, some parts of the United States, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and in Cumberland County in the British Colony of ...
of
Ouse and Derwent
Ouse and Derwent was a wapentake of the historic East Riding of Yorkshire, England consisting of the westerly part of the county, between the River Ouse and the River Derwent. Established in medieval times, it ceased to have much significance in ...
. A public school existed for the benefit of poor children. Population at the time was 286, with occupations including a schoolteacher, nine farmers, a tailor, a butcher, two carpenters – one of whom was a gunsmith, the other a shopkeeper – and the
landlord
A landlord is the owner of property such as a house, apartment, condominium, land, or real estate that is rented or leased to an individual or business, known as a tenant (also called a ''lessee'' or ''renter''). The term landlord appli ...
of the Boot and Shoe
public house
A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption Licensing laws of the United Kingdom#On-licence, on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the ...
, who was also a shoemaker. There was an
Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
at the Hall, and three
yeomen
Yeoman is a noun originally referring either to one who owns and cultivates land or to the middle ranks of servants in an English royal or noble household. The term was first documented in mid-14th-century England. The 14th century witnessed ...
.
[ Baines, Edward (1823): ''History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York'', p. 359]
A prophetess arrived in Kelfield in the summer of 1833. The Yorkshire and national newspapers were gripped by the story of a young girl called Hannah Beedham who became known as the 'Kelfield Prophetess'. Whilst staying at James Sturdy's home in Kelfield, Hannah described having a vision where she was told the date of her death. Thousands of people flocked to Kelfield to be 'in at the death'.
The newspapers reported Hannah Beedham's exploits with growing cynicism and glee when she failed to die as promised on 1 August 1833 at 9.00 pm. She had laid herself out in state in James Sturdy's Kelfield parlour, and thousands of curious people from all over Yorkshire filed past, in the hope of seeing a miracle. When she did not pass away, Sturdy must have wondered how to extricate himself from the embarrassing situation. Hannah died a few years later aged only 27 years. There is a record of Hannah's burial in an unmarked grave on Christmas Eve 1839, at
Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York
Holy Trinity Church, on Goodramgate in York, is a Grade I listed former parish church in the Church of England in York and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
History
The church dates from the 12th century. The south east chape ...
.
["Strange Infatuation, The Curious Tale of Hannah Beedham: Forgotten Prophetess of York and Kelfield", J.E. Muldowney and C. A. Cade.]
Her obituary in the ''Yorkshire Gazette'' on 28 December 1839 read: 'On Monday twenty-third of December in
Bedern
Bedern is a street in the city centre of York, in England, which originated as a college for the vicars choral of York Minster.
History
The Bedern College was founded in 1252, to house 36 vicars choral associated with York Minster. The name "B ...
in this city HANNAH WHITE formerly Hannah Beedham the fanatic who prophesied her own death a few years ago and created such a sensation in this city and its vicinity to induce a large number of persons to make a pilgrimage to Kelfield in order to witness its accomplishment. Shortly after her strange prediction she got married and has left two young children. Her closing days have been passed in distress and poverty.'
Amenities
The village no longer has a school, church or shops, but is served by the local villages of Riccall and Cawood, with secondary school children travelling to
Barlby High School
Barlby High School is a mixed secondary school located in Barlby, North Yorkshire, England. The school opened in 1960.
Previously a community school administered by North Yorkshire County Council, in September 2017 Barlby High School conve ...
. Amenities include the Grey Horse public house, the village institute and the cricket club.
See also
*
Listed buildings in Kelfield, North Yorkshire
References
External links
*
Kelfield Village website
{{authority control
Civil parishes in North Yorkshire
Villages in North Yorkshire