Some facts about Easingwold and the Forest of Galtre's.
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There is no written record of Easingwold before the Domesday Book of 1086. There was probably only 100 habitants at this time. In the census of 1801 this had grown to 1,467.

The name 'Easingwold' is derived from an Anglican word meaning - people of Esa.

The name the Forest of Galtres originates from Scandanavia meaning - boar's brushwood.

The part of the town called Uppleby is from a Danish settlement probably in the ninth century.

The major road between Lincoln and Newcastle came through Easingwold - along Long Street.

There was a mill in Easingwold around approx 1244 called Waneless Mill, on the north side of the town.

The Manor of Easingwold & Huby passed through several hands - some of the highlights are:
  • Prior to the Norman Conquest the Manor was held by Morcar, the Earl of Northumbria.
  • In the Domesday book the Manor was held by the King himself.
  • Earl Henry of Lancaster became Lord of the Manor in 1327.
  • The Lord of the Manor passed to Tudor Soveriegns of Henry VII's reign in the late 1400's.
  • In 1616 James I granted the Manor to Charles, Prince of Wales.
  • Thomas Belasyee, the 2nd Viscount Fauconberg was Lord of the Manor in 1652 and was married to Oliver Cromwell's daughter Mary.
The Galtres Forest was disafforested by the 1630's. This caused the tamimg of the wild landscape. The district around Easingwold remained a place for small farmers into the early nineteenth century. Dairying and pig-keeping became the pursuit of small farms after the felling of trees came to an end. Large quantities of butter and bacon from Easingwold were traded with London.

There was a tradition of raising horses in the Forest, which continued in the annual horse races. An example of this is the Spring Races of 1837 held in late February.

On the north side of the square the 'old cucking stool' could be found, along with the town pinfold/lockup and the 'stocks' at a later date. On the south side of the square there was a whipping post and the previous stocks.

In 1741 there was an outbreak of smallpox in Easingwold, causing 18 deaths.

The 'old vicarage' in the north west corner of the square dates back to 1771, on the site of the previous which was destroyed by fire.

Inns of Easingwold over the years include (at various periods):
  • Blue Bell - Uppleby
  • The Duke of Malborough's Head - 1753
  • Rose & Crown
  • New Inn
  • The Angel
  • The Old White Horse
  • The Post Boy
  • Unicorn
  • The George Inn
  • Malt Shovel
  • Jolly Farmers - Uppleby
  • The Punch Bowl
  • The Sun and Punch Bowl
  • Green Tree
  • The Bay Horse
  • Red Lion
  • Wagon and Horses
  • Grey Horse
  • Nags Head
  • The Pig (later the Wild Boar)
  • The Fleece
  • Old and New Whitehouses
  • Travellers Rest
  • Black Swan
  • York Hotel
  • The Commercial
Easingwold Workhouse was erected in 1837 - check out this link for brief history workhouse.
During the 1st World War the Workhouse was used primarily to hold prisoners of war from Germany.

In 1883 Easingwold had it's own voluntary Fire Brigade.

By 1891 Easingwold had its own railway line and station which helped improve trade, however this was closed by the late 1950's.

In 1890 the largest landowner in the town was a J H Love, who resided at Hawkhills.

In 1893 St Monica's Cottage Hospital was built and paid for by Mrs Catherine Love of Hawkhills.

In the centre of the square, the building now occupied by a printers was originally the Town Hall.