Arkendale Genealogy & Family History


This page contains details of names of individuals or families from Arkendale to help researchers trace their ancestry. Details of existing research are welcome, as also are queries.

To submit your information or question, please send a message to

Arkendale is covered by the Harrogate and District Family History Society.

The Great Ouseburn Workhouse covered the parish of Arkendale.
NameContact & Notes
Arkendale SmithyJanette Hustwitt - knaresravens@yahoo.co.uk - [5th January 2010]

Up until a few years ago, my father was the owner of the smithy in the village. I have been trying to research when it first came into existence. From the website history I found the last mention of a blacksmith was George Umpleby who sold the smithy in 1881. I wondered if any of the villagers have any more information on who bought the smithy from Mr Umpleby, or who my father bought it from. I am trying to build up an archive for my father, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Note: Thomas Marshall was the blacksmith in 1908. Francis Umpleby was the blacksmith in 1857 (father of George).

CalvertBill Spencer - Bill.Spencer@stpct.nhs.uk - [7th July 2010]

I have traced my family tree back as far as 1817 and into the Arkendale area, no trace of families in your cenus pages.

Starting with Robert Calvert born 1817 in Arkendale, married to Elizabeth Alderson born 1821 also in Arkendale

Daughter Mary Ann Calvert born 22 november 1843 or 1844 in Arkendale buried in Blyth Northumberland 1925, married 1863 to David Watson born 13 july 1844 Thornville yorks. Their daughter Jane Watson Born 23 march 1868 Hetton le Hole, Co. Durham. (David Watson's parents listed as Joseph Watson B. 1822 Thornville and Jane Winpenny B. 1822 Thornville)

Jane Watson is my Great Grandmother, other half of family originate from Durham coalfields which is where I presume David Watson and Mary Ann Calvert relocated to from Arkendale. My problem is there are no records of any of these people in the records or censuses.

Any help would be much appreciated.
DarbyshireRon Cross - roneec@sympatico.ca - [17th december 2010]

I am researching the Darbyshire line from Arkendale, Knaresborough, Leeds etc.

Peter Darbyshire a wheelwright and wife Elizabeth (Unknown) had 6 known children: Bryan (married Hannah Weatherhead); John (died age 5); George (married 1, Sarah Waite, 2. Hannah Morland): John (married Sarah Strothard, this is my direct line); Jane (married John Elliott).

Peter's father according the The Church of Latter Day Saints site is reputed to be George Derbishire.

Hope to connect with others researching this line to fill in some missing links. I have lots of info to share. My great grandmother came to Canada as a Home child in 1896 with her sister

DodsworthYvonne Roberts - roberts@killingworth2.fsnet.co.uk - [4th January 2011]

I have researched my family history off and on for many years but not until Dec 2010 did I discover the 'Poisoning at Arkendale in 1818' . The victim and his family are my Gt Gt Gt Grandparents, Joseph and Ann Dodsworth. This information has given me Josephs fathers name, Thomas, and their professions of Wheelwright as well as being a very interesting find. The article in 1818 mentions inherited property to Joseph from his mother (possibly Elisabeth nee Webster?) which could confirm why the 1851 census lists him as Farmer, then 1861 as landed Proprietor in Arkendale. Where was this and who inherited it or was it lost.?

My lineage continues through Josephs daughter Elizabeth who seems to have had an illegitimate child Ambrose, born Arkendale Sept 1844, resides Appleton-Wiske, dies Arkendale March 1845. (Can anyone offer an explanation to why Appleton?)

Elizabeth then marries in Leeds Sept 1845 to a Thomas Annakin of Whixley and they then return to Arkendale, he as a Farmers labourer, possibly working for Joseph, before returning to Leeds by 1861. The land must have been passed on elsewhere possible through the male line as then the family in Leeds live a megre life.

Can anyone help me with the above ?? or anything further back on this line of Joseph / Thomas Dodsworth. Any information on the Annakin line would be welcome too.

PS Congratulations on a very informative website.

Richard, AlineSue Rodrigues - susier@jerseymail.co.uk - [9th September 2009]

I am researching my mother during the war and would like to find out more about her time in Arkendale. She was in the Land Army and for a time (I dont know how long) was stationed in a large house called Arkendale Hall. I have an old photo of the house dated April 1945, on which she marked with an "X" her room which she shared with 10 girls.

I came to Arkendale a few years ago and found the house and it hadnt changed at all in all those years.

Does anyone have any information in village archives or old photos of the land army girls during this time, and the farms they worked on perhaps? I have travelled to Yorkshire a couple of times to trace my mothers steps but have only managed to find this place and another one in Little Ouseburn, but really dont know anything else about her time there and would love to know more.

My mothers name was Aline Richard and she came over to the UK from Jersey with her family as an evacuee, and joined the Land Army in 1943

RichardsonEileen Tomlinson - the.tommos@tiscali.co.uk - [29th March 2009]

I have always understood that my greatgrandparents farmed at Arkendale I think possibly around 1880. I was interested to read on the website that Mr Joseph Nussey bought the Manor in 1883, I believe him to be the same man who lived at Fawcett House, Lower Wortley, Leeds. My grandfather, Robert Richarson, son of the above mentioned farmer, worked at Fawcett House as butler where he met my grandmother.
My great grandfather was Edward Richardson, first married to Ann Nicholson who was born in Arkendale, and he came from Hayton. He later remarried a lady called Eliza ? I do not have her maiden name. Edward and Ann's children all went into service in Leeds. A distant cousin of mine in Leeds, who has the history of the family, tells me that the family all lived at 'The White House' in Arkendale. and Edward was a 'Wheelwright'.
I have never visited Arkendale but hope to do so when we visit Yorkshire in May. I would be happy to learn of any record of my greatgrandparents.
TrewhittPatricia Castleton - patricia.castleton@ntlworld.com - [19th August 2009]

I have just been looking at your website and searching the listings of people who lived in Arkendale between the years 1841 - 1901 when I understood that several of the children of my great grandfather John Trewhitt, who married Mary Alderson in 1861, were born at Wallclose farm in Arkendale. The name does not appear on any of the censuses so I am wondering if there is any help on this matter to be had.
There is a Walls Close House about a mile to the east of Arkendale.