Burnby Maps

Burnby Maps

Being a small village, earlier and more detailed maps of Burnby are rare to find. However, Burnby has been spotted on maps as long as the Wolds have been documented through cartography.

This first map was made by famous Cheshire carotgraher John Speed (1551/52-1629) in 1610, and can be found on East Riding Archives whatwashere.org website, which is also where the rest of the map excerpts can be explored in greater detail, along with vintage photos from the surrounding area. You can also access it on an app on your phone.

1610, Burnby can be spotted just beneath Pocklington. Nunburnholme is still 'Burnholme' - the 'Nun' was added later after the Benedictine Priory.

1686 map by Robert Morden (1650-1703)Bu

1763 map by Emanuel Bowen (1694-1767), the Royal Mapmaker of King George II and King Louis XV. Here we see 'Burnholme' has become 'NunBurnholme'.

Bowen's 1763 map explicitly includes the road to York, now the A1079.

1793 by John Cary (1754-1835). Note St. Giles being situated on the corner.

1832 by brothers Christopher (1786-1855) and John (1791-1840) Greenwood. Interestingly, the field name 'Ramills' or 'Romills' is referenced here, near Partridge Hall.

1855 wider extract

Closer look at 1855 map, which details a 'Manor House', 'Burnby Station', The Smithy's' what appears to be two Rectory's. C

The 1855 Map is one of the more fascinating insights into the history of Burnby. It details the now extinct Manor House, which likely lay on the site of one of the two Anglo-Saxon manors, and where Sir Charles Anderson stayed when visiting the estate. Nunburnholme Station is still called it's original 'Burnby Station'.The Blacksmith's is noted: 'Smithy's'. Opposite Burnby House the field is called 'Camp Closes' and might suggest what archaeologists have suggested for many years - that an old Roman Camp may lie somewhere in Burnby. Meanwhile, a 'Mill Fields' and 'Mill Lane' suggest the existence of an early mill at Burnby. There's a Bowling Green between Burnby and the 1079.

This map also interested an older resident of Burnby, who carefully reconstructed the maps and detailed all the field names that can be seen.

A clearer reconstruction of 1850's Ordnance Survey map, which details field names. This map is taken from a scrap book that was kept in 'Burnby Box' a history box that has been kept safe for decades.

1890 map

40 years later, and the 1890's map shows the site of the Manor House in further detail. It appears to extend along the entire lane and has two gates that lead to the beck. Burnby House used to have a small orchard, and this can be spotted opposite Manor House near the beck. The horse chestnut trees that can still be seen today between Burnby House and the bridge are also detailed here. Burnby Station has officially changed to 'Nunburnholme Station'.

191018

In 1910's map, a notable inclusion of a historic 'moat' is included where Burnby Equestrian Centre now lies. There has been plenty of historic finds at Moat Farm and the Equestian Centre, including plenty of pottery, but the area hasn't been officially explored by archaeologists yet.

The moat is particularly important, as moats were often used specifically to protect buildings of importance. Academics like David Crouch have noted the existence of not one, but two Anglo-Saxon manors. The site of one was likely the same site of the Manor House, but the moat may have enclosed the second manor.

1970s

The 1970's map shows the new council houses that were built in the 1950s. Nunburnholme Station is now dormant.