The Hutton family of Marske

The Hutton family of Marske

These pages summarise the role of the Hutton family, as “Lords of the Manor” in Marske, from their first arrival the 1590s to their sale of the Estate in the 1960s. 

The story covers two archbishops, allegiances to Queen Elizabeth I, the near loss of the estate after the English Civil war, investment in buildings and agriculture around Marske, a tea plantation in Ceylon, and finally the reduction of the size of the estate by two-thirds due to the impact of two World Wars.

Succession in the family was largely defined through wills – and typically followed the traditional English pattern of being handed to the eldest son.  In some cases where the succession was due to a child, the trustees named in the will often played a substantial role in managing affairs. 

Much of the material here is drawn from the book on the life of Timothy Hutton (1779 to 1863) written by Jane Hatcher – and published in 2020¹.  The book is based on the record left in Timothy Hutton’s extensive diaries.  The diaries were transcribed by Peter Wenham – and Jane Hatcher’s book provides a fascinating insight into the life of a progressive nineteenth century land-owner.  The book is still in print and widely available. 

Matthew Hutton (1529-1606).  The Archbishop of York from 1595 to 1606.

The story of the Hutton family in Marske begins with Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of York, who lived partly in Marske in later life.  He had been born in Priest Hutton, in Lancashire².

Matthew had worked hard to establish Protestantism in the North during the reign of Elizabeth I.  This was a time when the Catholic faith had many adherents, and when rebellions were taking place against the new Protestant order¹.

Matthew was appointed Bishop of Durham in 1589, and then Archbishop of York in 1595.  The same year he was also appointed by Elizabeth I to be Lord President of the Council of the North – a body charged with putting down rebellions.  He held this role until 1599.  After Queen Elizabeth’s death in 1603 he remained Archbishop into James I’s reign, and was known to be a vigorous persecutor of those who clung to the old religion.  In 1604 he wrote protesting against any relaxation of the laws concerning Catholics³.  Matthew died three years later in 1606, and there is a monument to him in York Minster².

Matthew had become rich following his various appointments, and through his third marriage to the wealthy widow Frances Scrope.  His funds helped his son Timothy Hutton purchase lands at Marske, as well as funding endowments in Lancashire¹.

Timothy Hutton (1569-1629).  First owner of Marske estate and hall – for 32 years.

Timothy Hutton bought land around Marrick in 1592, and Marske in 1597, with funds from his father.  With this help he re-built the mansion that had been at Marske – this became Marske Hall^1,4. 

Timothy married Elizabeth Bowes.  Elizabeth was god-daughter of Queen Elizabeth I, this honour was in part due to Elizabeth Bowes’s father’s role in quelling the Risings of the Northern Earls¹.  A silver-gilt cup gifted to the couple by Queen Elizabeth I remained in the Hutton family possessions until it was sold to Queen Elizabeth II in 1957^1,5.

Timothy also acquired The Friary in Richmond, was appointed High Sherriff of Yorkshire in 1605, and served as Alderman (Mayor) of Richmond^2,1,6. 

A striking monument to Timothy and Elizabeth dominates the chancel of the St Mary’s church in Richmond – it includes effigies of both the parents and their many children.  An inscription in Greek, Latin and English was written by Reverend Jackson, who Raine describes as “the pedantic rector” of Marske⁴.  Timothy and the Reverend must have been a hoot.  According to Raine they “measured their wits together in knotty points of divinity and philosophy”⁴.

Matthew Hutton (1597-1666).  Owned Marske estate for about 37 years.

In the words of Raine, Matthew Hutton “played great havoc” with the estate his father left him⁷. Matthew married Barbara Conyers D’Arcy of Hornby Castle (south of Richmond) and was an MP for Richmond from 1626⁸.  His cousin Richard, who was part of a York branch of the Hutton family, had married into the Fairfaxes – well known Parliamentarians during the civil war¹.  This may have saved his life. 

Matthew was in debt for much of his life.  His debts were met in part by selling off much of the estate including land at Marrick and in Richmond^9,6,10.  He had been a Royalist during the Civil War⁸.  This compounded his financial difficulties as he found himself on the losing side after the Civil War and was fined for this. It is likely, as Jane Hatcher suggests, that without his connection to the Fairfaxes he may have lost all of his assets, or even his life¹.

Matthew’s brother, Timothy (b 1601) provided the font in Marske church. The architectural interest in this font was remarked upon in a cool tone by Pevsner,¹¹ and described as being “of rude and coarse workmanship” by Raine¹².  

Most of the Marske parish rectors until the ninetneeth century were in some way related to the Hutton family. Matthew’s elder sister Beatrice married a Francis Mauleverer – probably around 1620¹.  Edmund Mauleverer, Rector of Marske from 1646 to 1661, was related, and was the first of many parish rectors related to the family¹³.  The same was true of Matthew’s nephew, Thomas (through his younger brother Philip) who was rector at Marske from 1661-1694¹. 

Matthew’s son John (1625-1664) married a Frances Stapleton in 1651¹.  Henry Staplyton, also a Rector of Marske from 1694-1738 (List of Rectors), was related to the Huttons¹⁴.

Matthew died in 1666, and as all of his sons had died before him the inheritance skipped a generation¹.  Whilst Marske Estate had stayed with the family over the period of the Civil War, it had been a close-run thing.

John Hutton (I).  1659-1731.  Owned Marske estate for about 65 years.

The inheritance of the estate passed to John (aged 7!) on Matthew’s death, after having skipped a generation.  He improved Marske church in 1683, whilst he was still in his twenties, and was responsible for the south window which bears his name on the exterior as “John Hutton, Squir.  1683”¹¹.  Raine is critical of the workmanship of this window describing it as “being put in by some village mason, so rudely are they done”¹².  It is possible that the construction of the north aisle and the chancel (the part of the church now including the altar) also dates from this time¹⁵. 

John was MP for Richmond (as a Whig) for eight months from 1701⁶.  He was succeeded as MP by his eldest son’s wife’s father, Lord D’Arcy of Sedbury and later Navan – it was a small world^16,6!  There were rumbling rebellions in England during his lifetime, centred around whether succession to the crown should preclude Catholics.  Whigs were strongly supportive of a Protestant line of succession¹⁷. 

He remodelled Marske Hall towards the end of his life.  His burial place, in Marske church was unmarked, in accordance with his wishes¹. 

John Hutton (II).  1691-1768.  Brother of another Archbishop.  Owned Marske estate for about 65 years.

From 1731 John (II) made many improvements to the buildings and lands of the Marske Estate – he also acquired the neighbouring estate of Walburn¹⁸.  A map drawn up for him in 1732 records the estate before he started making changes.  

John built the rectory, at the time the rector of Marske was Richard Horne.  Richard Horne was gt gt grandson of the first Matthew Hutton.  The rectory was known for its fruit trees – and rector Horne apparently proudly recorded some of his young trees in the parish register¹⁹!

In 1745 the Jacobite rebellion led to armed conflict, primarily in Scotland, in an attempt to restore a Catholic king (James Stuart) to the British throne²⁰.  The very real threat of this conflict to England led to John Hutton raising a militia of around 60 local people in Marske, and it is said that his vigilance and care led to the rebellion making so little progress in Yorkshire.  The fear of a spreading conflict is recorded in letters between John Hutton and the then Archbishop of York, as is “the hunting down of Papists”¹⁸.  The defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden ultimately lifted the threat to the North of England. The Culloden Tower, on the estate of John Yorke in Richmond and built in 1746, celebrates the defeat of the Jacobite uprising in what was the last pitched battle on British soil^21,22.

John was also a promotor of horse-racing, built stables at Marske Hall, and is connected with at least two significant racing trophies: the Snow Tankard (1755), and the Richmond Race Cup (1764). A little more information on horse-racing’s connections to Marske is covered here, including photos of these two famous trophies.

Jane Hatcher records that he was held in respect and affection locally¹. John died in 1768 and is buried in Marske church.  His ledger stone was rediscovered when the church floor was repaired in 1992¹. 

John’s brother, Matthew (1693-1758), was Archbishop of York (1747), and Canterbury (1757)²³.  One of his claims to fame is that in 2016 his lead coffin was probably amongst those uncovered during works on the Garden Museum at Lambeth Palace²⁴.

John Hutton (III).  1730-1782.  Owned Marske estate for about 14 years.

John (III) married Anne Ling, who had originally been his housekeeper.  Their first three sons were born out of wedlock.  John’s younger sister, Elizabeth (1734-1816), married Henry Pulleine in 1764. The Pulleine family (James Pulleine, 1804-1879) ultimately inherited Clifton Castle after the death of Timothy Hutton in 1863¹.

John Hutton (IV).  1774-1841.  Eldest son of John (III).  Owned Marske estate for about 59 years.

John (IV) was the eldest son of John (III) and inherited the Marske Estate and Hall on reaching age of 18, and lived there for most of his adult life, alongside practicing law in London – he was politically Liberal^1,25.  Jane Hatcher records the interim arrangements until he reached adulthood.  The four brothers were all close, and helped each other through life.  Their mother (Anne Ling) moved into Richmond after the death of John Hutton (III), and had not been treated generously in his will. 

John preferred the seclusion of Marske to the turmoil of Westminster.  He was very popular locally, and his birthdays in Marske were scenes to be remembered.  He was the last member of the Hutton family to have resided permanently in the village²⁵.  John began to establish Cordilleras Farm on Marske Moor soon after 1809²⁶, founded the “Wensleydale and Swaledale Bank”, funded refurbishment of Marske church in 1830 (including installation of box pews), built the Gothick Barn (see painting below), and founded Marske school in 1841^27,11.  He had expanded the estate by acquiring the lands associated with Applegarth manor in 1814²⁸, and initiated the purchase of Clints Estate and Hall just before his death in 1841¹.

One of his younger brothers, Matthew (1777-1813), is buried and commemorated at the Hutton Memorial, a prominent obelisk on the hill behind the hall above Marske.  It is told that when Matthew was a boy he used to sit on the hill “enchanted with the beauties of this mountainous country”³⁰. Matthew had a short military career, having joined the 22nd Foot (the Cheshire Infantry) as a Captain in 1799³¹ on a salary of £14 per month. Until the Cardwell Reforms of 1871 commisions, such as that of Captain, in the British Army could be bought and sold, and it is probable Matthew joined the army through this route. He started his military service recruiting in Yorkshire, and then went abroad to join the Regiment, and his Company of around 70 men, in the Cape of Good Hope and Calcutta. He returned from Calcutta sick in 1803 and didn’t return to service, though his Company continued under his name for three more years. A year later in London he got into an argument with a Captain from the Worcester Militia in George’s Coffee House on Coventry Street. The outcome of that argument was to have been a duel between the two men. Fortunately they were both arrested quickly and sent before Bow Street Magistrates’ Court where the argument was resolved. They were sent away on bail³². Matthew then settled in Macclesfield, Cheshire, but died young in 1813.  A charity was set up in his name – and dispensed funds to benefit of the poor from Richmond, Marske, Marrick, Grinton, Arkengarthdale, Hartforth, and Wensley. The charity secured care in hospitals in Newcastle, Leeds and York, provided for dispensaries in Reeth and Leyburn, and funded local schools and apprenticeships³³. The Matton Hutton Charity was still making pharmacy donations until at least 1948 – when the NHS was set up³⁴. 

Timothy Hutton.  1779-1863.  Youngest son of John (III).  Owned Marske estate for about 22 years.

Timothy Hutton made his home at Clifton-on-Ure for most of his adult life, but also spent time in Marske. He put a lot of effort into expanding the building at Clifton, which he named “Clifton Castle”.  Timothy’s life in both Marske and at Clifton Castle is the subject of the remarkable record published by Jane Hatcher as a book in 2020¹.  Much of the book is based on his unpublished diaries.

On the death of his elder brother in 1841 Timothy Hutton inherited Marske Estate.  After this time he continued to live mainly at Clifton, and only resided in Marske in August and September – presumably for the grouse shooting³⁷.  Whilst he could almost be called an absentee landlord he did however continue many of the investments in the Marske estate his brother had started.  He completed the purchase of Clints Estate and Hall in 1842 and then, in an act of apparent vandalism, demolished Clints Hall! 

Timothy was drawn out of life in the countryside to be High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1846.  On one occasion, whilst leaving the Mansion House in York, he sat down in his carriage with a Baron Alderson and managed to sit on top of both the Baron and his own sword.  The sword broke!  The Baron made a joke about Timothy’s weight – though one does wonder about the damage was caused to both by the broken sword³⁸.

Timothy Hutton had an interest in history and had many anecdotes.  He requested that Canon Raine, a fellow of the University of Durham, draw up an account of Marske.  This led to two publications, one published after Timothy’s death^39,40.  Raine spent time each autumn at Timothy Hutton’s “beautiful seat in Swaledale”, and notes that he felt there to be “the kindly feelings of a long line of distinguished ancestors”. 

John Timothy D’Arcy Hutton (I).  1822-1874.  Owned Marske estate for about 11 years.

After the death of Timothy the Marske estate passed to his first cousin once-removed, John Timothy (I) – a little bit like the Stuarts following the Tudors.  John Timothy had been living at Aldburgh Hall, near Masham, at the time when he inherited the Marske estate.  At some point he also acquired a smaller estate at Manfield, west of Darlington^1,41.  Shortly before the end of his life he renewed the front of Aldburgh Hall – potentially suggesting that Aldburgh, rather than Marske, was the focus of his attention²⁷. 

John Timothy’s brother James Henry D’Arcy Hutton (b1823) married Amy Robson, daughter of Thomas Robson, rector of Marske church from 1855 to 1879¹.  The south window in the church was installed in Thomas Robson’s memory (St Edmund’s church windows).

John Timothy D’Arcy Hutton (II).  1847-1931.  Owned Marske estate for about 57 years.

John Timothy (II) inherited Marske Hall, the Manfield estate⁴², and Aldburgh Hall from his father in 1874.  Before then he had married Edith Phipson in 1867, and in the 1870s they lived in Devon²⁷. John Timothy (II) and Edith had five children:  John Timothy D’Arcy Hutton (III), Edith Flora, Harold Maxwell, Hilda Wilfred and Aldyth Lorna.  In 1878 the family had moved into Marske Hall.  In 1888 John Timothy (II) was residing on the Esplanade in Scarborough. 

Curiously at the time of the 1891 census John Timothy (II), his wife and eldest son (John Timothy III) were living at Rose Cottage, on Church Road, in Marske village.  (From about 1890 onwards Marske Hall began to be rented out to a series of wealthy individuals, who often came to Marske in the late summer and autumn for grouse shooting and other related sports (see Marske Estate).) At the same time their three daughters were recorded in the census as “visiting” Scarborough, whilst his son Harold was in the Suffolk Artillery⁴¹.  However both Harold and youngest daughter Aldyth Lorna were in Marske for a concert in the church in September of 1891 (see choir). By 1901 John Timothy (II) and Edith were living in Aldbrough.  John Timothy (II) practised as a barrister in London. 

The book “Palm of the Dale” records that Skelton Hall, on which construction started in 1890, was intended for one of the sons and his wife-to-be, but when she jilted him the building was left incomplete (save for the roof) until the 1960s⁴³.  A family photo records three generations of D’Arcy Huttons from the beginning of the twentieth century.

At some point around 1876 the Hutton’s acquired a tea and coffee estate of around 300 acres in Sri Lanka, at a place called Suduganga (or Soodooganga).  This acquisition may have been a re-investment of the inheritance.  The estate was bought in the names of Edith Phipson (John Timothy’s wife) and her brother Cecil Balfour Phipson⁴⁴.  By 1900 the second son, Harold and his wife Lilias was living in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and described himself as a tea planter (and Harold’s first son, Harold Maxwell, was born there).  The family returned to the UK in 1901 – they ultimately settled in Great Barton in Suffolk.  It is assumed that the family’s interests in Sri Lanka ended after 35 years in 1901. 

Some history of those parts of the Hutton family that settled in the village of Great Barton, in Suffolk, have been published (the village was known as “Betuna” in Saxon)^27,45. 

From the late nineteenth century onwards the role of the “Estate Agent” began to be more prominent in Marske. The “Estate Agent” was an individual working locally to manage the day-to-day affairs of the estate.  During this time John Timothy (II) had Marske Lodge constructed, both as a place where he could stay on his visits to Marske, and where his estate agent could live.  An Estate Office was established in Yew Tree Cottage in the village as well.  

In the 1925s the War Office compulsorily acquired most of the lands on the Marske Estate south of the Swale (see Feldom and Catterick Training Area), including around Downholme, Walburn and Stainton (2406 acres or 10 sq km).  John Timothy (II) took the Ministry to court over this and lost. The lands have been part of the Catterick Training area ever since. 

John Timothy D’Arcy Hutton (III).  1870-1957.  Owned Marske estate for about 26 years.

John (III) inherited Marske Hall, and land at Manfield, from his father.  In 1940 the War Office compulsorily acquired more lands from the Marske Estate, in this case around 6000 acres centred on Feldom (see Feldom and Catterick Training Area).  The remaining estate was about 4000 acres, this was around one-third the size it had been only 20 years previously.  The Hall was sold off in the early 1950s before the death of John Timothy (III) – together with many of its paintings and artefacts. 

On the death of Timothy (III) the inheritance passed largely to the eldest nephew, Harold Maxwell D’Arcy Hutton⁴⁶.  He and his agents sold the whole of the Marske estate (and a smaller estate at Manfield).  The historic 1764 Richmond Cup, a historic horse-racing trophy, found its way to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA. By the mid-1960s the connection of over 360 years between the Hutton family and the village and parish of Marske had ended.

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1. Hatcher, J.  2020. Timothy Hutton (1779-1863) of Clifton Castle and Marske in Swaledale.[↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
2. Wikipedia. Matthew Hutton (1525-1606).  Accessed 2023.[↩][↩][↩]
3. Borwick and Priest Hutton Website.  Priest Hutton history page.  Accessed 2023.[↩]
4. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p245.[↩][↩][↩]
5. Royal Collection Trust.  1957.  The Hutton Cup.[↩]
6. History of Parliament Website.  John Hutton I, 1659-1731.  Accessed 2023[↩][↩][↩][↩]
7. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p249.[↩]
8. Wikipedia. Matthew Hutton (1597-1666).  Accessed 2023.[↩][↩]
9. History of Parliament website.  Matthew Hutton, 1597-1666.  Accessed 2023[↩]
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11. Grenville, J. and Pevsner., N.  2022.  The Buildings of England.  Yorkshire:  The North Riding.[↩][↩][↩]
12. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p177.[↩][↩]
13. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p191.[↩]
14. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p192.[↩]
15. Local contributor 2.  2023.  Information received.[↩]
16. Leigh Rayment’s list of MPs.  Website.  Accessed 2023[↩]
17. Wikipedia. Whigs.  Accessed 2023.[↩]
18. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p254.[↩][↩]
19. Yorkshire Post.  24 Mar 1932.  This Mellow Shire.  Marske and Its Men.  Viewed at The British Newspaper Archive (BNA website).[↩]
20. Wikipedia. Jacobite rebellion.  Accessed 2023.[↩]
21. Wikipedia. Culloden Tower. Accessed 2023.[↩]
22. Wikipedia. Battle of Culloden. Accessed 2023.[↩]
23. Wikipedia. Matthew Hutton (1693-1758).  Accessed 2023.[↩]
24. BBC.  16 April 2017.  Remains of five lost Archbishops of Canterbury found.[↩]
25. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p262.[↩][↩]
26. Historic England.  Official listing of Cordilleras Farmstead – grade II.  Accessed 2023.[↩]
27. Betuna’s children website.  2018.  Ancestry of Harold Edward D’Arcy Hutton.  Accessed 2023 – blog dated 5/Jan/2018.[↩][↩][↩][↩]
28. Victoria County History (https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/north/vol1).  Various sections in North Riding, Volume 1, including The honour and castle of Richmond.  Parishes of Marske, Kirby Ravensworth, Arkengarthdale, Barningham.  Accessed 2023.  Published 1914.[↩]
29. Rees, David Morgan. 2000. In the Palm of the Dale. A portrait in words and pictures of a Yorkshire Dales village.[↩]
30. Clarkson, C. 1821. History of Richmond.[↩]
31. National Archives. WO12/3876-3896-3881. 1779-1806. 22nd Foot 1st Batallion.[↩]
32. Kentish Gazette, 25 May 1804. Notices. Viewed at British Newspaper Archive (BNA subscription website).[↩]
33. National Archives. TS11/339/1064. c1832-1834. Documents relating to the creation of a charity in memory of Matthew Hutton.[↩]
34. Hatcher, J.  2020. Timothy Hutton (1779-1863) of Clifton Castle and Marske in Swaledale.[↩]
35. Rees, David Morgan. 2000. In the Palm of the Dale. a portrait in words and pictures of a Yorkshire Dales village.[↩]
36. Speight, H. 1897. Romantic Richmondshire.[↩]
37. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p174.[↩]
38. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI, p263[↩]
39. Raine, James. 1860. Marske. A Small Contribution Towards Yorkshire Topography. On-demand reprint available from British Library. [↩]
40. Raine, James. 1881. Marske in Swaledale. Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association Journal, Vol VI.[↩]
41. Betuna’s children website.  2018.  Harold Edward D’Arcy Hutton and Lilias MacKenzie.  Accessed 2023 – blog dated 4/Jan/2018.[↩][↩][↩]
42. North Yorkshire County Records Office. Conveyances relating to JTDH II. ZAZ 50.[↩]
43. Rees, David Morgan.  2000.  In the Palm of the Dale.[↩]
44. North Yorkshire County Records Office 1876-1888.  Suduganga papers.  ZAZ 88.[↩][↩]
45. Spiller, S.  2017.  Betuna’s Children.  The history of education in a Suffolk village.[↩]
46. Probate Office.  1957.  Will of John Timothy D’Arcy Hutton.[↩]