Prehistory

There is evidence of activity in the area in the Mesolithic (10,000-7,000 years ago) and Neolithic (7,000-5,000 years ago) periods. The forests in around valleys were cleared certainly by 3500BC. Sources of water would have been of critical importance to man because the naturally well draining chalk landscape and lack of rivers would otherwise limit the area's habitability. The pond at Vessey Pasture was clearly important in the Stone Age, as significant amounts of worked flint have been found there.

Into the Bronze Age (from about 3000 BC) there is evidence of people living in the area for at least part of the year. There are a number of round barrows from the period, though they are not very visible nowadays.

Later, towards the Iron Age, linear earthworks began to be constructed. These demonstrate that the idea of territory was developing, and the earthworks were used to demarcate areas of land. There are numbers of barrows across the top of the scarp looking down into the Vale of York. Houses are known to have existed at Wharram Percy in about 100BC.

The Romans

By Roman times, the landscape was fairly similar to today. The main centres of dwelling and farms were established. Many existing tracks and roads were in the same position as today. Some Roman pottery has been found in Thixendale, but little is known of the state of the village at that time. There was, however, a Roman village less than a mile away at Raisthorpe.

Mediaeval

The landscape changed a lot in the 9th-10th centuries. Settlement became concentrated in villages and landholdings were reorganised into neat patterns. New field systems were in place before the Norman conquest. Fields were laid out in a ridge and furrow arrangement, and every villager had a number of strips spread around the available land. Thixendale parish became the largest of the five townships under Wharram Percy. 

There are references in 1440 to a chapel dedicated to St. Stephen serving Thixendale and Raisthorpe. Its location is not known, but may have been at the west end because of references to 'Chapel Garth' in 1573. The main church was still at Wharram Percy, so the chapel appears to be for the use of the elderly and infirm. Declining congregations Wharram Percy resulted in the chapel's closure in 1546.

Much of the land came into the ownership of the church. St. Mary's Abbey in York, and Kirkham Abbey owned large areas. Eventually two thirds of Thixendale was owned by the church. The church wanted to consolidate the strips to build up blocks of land for sheep. This tended to squeeze out the villagers and resulted in large monastic sheepwalks.

With the dissolution of the monasteries, all of the land was grabbed by the crown, which then proceeded to sell it off. Speculators bought land and split it up for sale in smaller portions.

17th/18th Century

During the 17th century, much of these lands were consolidated into large estates. This had the effect of depopulating the villages and the lands were grassed over for sheep. The disappearance of the village at Raisthorpe is a good example of this.

In time, sheep became less profitable. There were failed attempts at ploughing the land, but bad land management led to disuse.

Also see 'Thixendale under the Sledmere Estate'.

18th/19th Century

Thixendale had survived previous enclosures, and retained its land strip system. 

Between 1786 and 1795, Sir Christopher Sykes started buying land property by property. Along with the properties went the strips of land. He created farms of between 500 and 1000 acres, notably Thixendale Grange, Manor Farm, Gills Farm and Gritts Farm. Along with the farms, came the farmsteads, built from 1843 onwards.

Agriculture was developed by securing sources of water in dew ponds and improving the fertility of the soil by using manure  from cattle. The cattle were held in high barns through the winter and sold in the spring.

Labourers were needed for the agriculture. Older workers were found in the villages, and younger lads were hired by the year.

The Sykes estate were responsible for much of the existing buildings in Thixendale, including Diamond cottages, the church and the school. In part, this was a way of 'showing-off' the wealth of the estate. Only the best architects and workmanship was permitted.

Also see 'Thixendale under the Sledmere Estate'.

This map from 1793 shows the following:

	(1) Marshall's Garth occupied the land from the junction near 'Round-the-Bend' through where Beamer View and Newcote are now.
	(2) Court Garth occupied the land that is now mainly Chapel Farm.
	(3) There is a lane between (1) and (2), called Water Lane, leading to (4) below.
	(4) Marshall's Allotment - a small triangle of land to the south of (1) and the west of (2)
	(5) Brigham's Garth - now the site of the Cross Keys.
	(6) Brigham's Allotment - roughly where Jay-Jay is now
	(7) Thomas Harrison's Garth - between Cottage Farm and Manor farm.
	The spring and pond can be seen towards Manor Farm.
	A building is shown opposite 'Round-the-Bend'
	What is now October Barn seems to be shown.
	All of the existing roads were already in place.

	Marshall's Garth appears to have grown by taking over Court Garth and Water Lane.
	October Barn appears more clearly. There appears to be a road between it and the Huggate hill.

	The Cross Keys is clearly identified.
	The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is shown.
	Manor Farm is shown.
	The Smithy is shown opposite Cottage farm.
	The schoolroom is shown.

	The school, church and vicarage appear.
	Diamond Cottages appear.
	Beamer View cottages appear.