Morris' Writings on Burnby

Marmaduke Charles Frederick Morris was the son of Francis Orpen Morris, an Irish clergyman who spent his final years at the Rectory of Nunburnholme, was an author, illustrator and had avid natural historian.

Francis Orpen Morris (1810-1893)

He was an early advocate of animal rights, and despite being staunchly anti-feminist he collaborated with Lady Mount Temple and Mrs. R. Cavendish-Boyle in founding 'The Plumage League' in 1885, which campaigned against the excessive use of feathers in fashion. These efforts would lead to the creation of the RSPB. He also loathed fox-hunting, opposed vivisection and advocated for nature conservation. Francis, a stern Christian, also opposed Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

An example of Francis Morris's illustrations.

His son, Marmaduke Charles Frederick Morris soon came to live at Nunburnholme also, becoming the village rector and became enamoured with the area, publishing 'Nunburnholme: its History and Antiquities' and 'Yorkshire Reminiscences (and others)'. It's in the latter publication that he writes about Burnby in 1922:

The next parish to Nunburnholme is Burnby, one mile distant, and when I first knew the place, and for many years afterwards, it was owned by Sir Charles Anderson, of Lea, near Gainsborough. There was no squire's house at Burnby, but Sir Charles was attached to the place and to his tenantry, and he visited them periodically on rent audits and other occasions. On these occasions he generally stayed with his neighbour, Admiral Buncombe, at Kilnwick Percy. Burnby was only a small parish, and the farmers there in those days were like a happy family. Not only had they unbounded respect and affection for their squire, but they were on the most friendly terms with one another. They did not address each other by their ordinary names, but each had a byname such as Squire, Colonel, Pope, Cardinal ; these I remember, but there were others which I have forgotten. They all had common tastes and interests. They were all more or less sportsmen. I should say that Burnby in those days was, for its size, one of the * most ' horsey ' villages in the East Riding ; for, not only were horses bred there in considerable numbers, but there was living there for many years a celebrated jockey. This was none other than Simeon Templeman, commonly known on the Turf as ' Honest Sim ' — a fitting sobriquet in his case, for a straighter jockey than he never rode a race. He never betted, unless it was some paltry sum, and I am not sure if he even did that. He put by all he earned ; and although jockeys were not then paid anything like as much as they are now, he was able when he retired to buy for himself a very nice little property in Burnby, where he resided, and where he acted as churchwarden for some years. He won the Derby no less than three times, viz. in 1839, J847, and 1848 ; also the St. Leger in 1851, and many more. In his declining years his sight failed him. He sold his property at Burnby and went to live at York, where he died.

He also studied the local dialect, and noted that Burnby was pronounced "Bo'nby".

Extract from Marmaduke Morris' 1922 'Yorkshire Reminiscences.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Orpen_Morris#Works

https://archive.org/details/yorkshirereminis00morriala/page/288/mode/2up