without the help of the Vicar, who knew every inch of his wild parish,
the Danby district must seem much less interesting.

CHAPTER VIII

GUISBOROUGH AND THE SKELTON VALLEY

Although a mere fragment of the Augustinian Priory of Guisborough is
standing to-day, it is sufficiently imposing to convey a powerful
impression of the former size and magnificence of the monastic church.
This fragment is the gracefully buttressed east end of the choir, which
rises from the level meadow-land to the east of the town. The stonework
is now of a greenish-gray tone, but in the shadows there is generally a
look of blue. Beyond the ruin and through the opening of the great east
window, now bare of tracery, you see the purple moors, with the
ever-formidable Roseberry Topping holding its head above the green woods
and pastures.

The destruction of the priory took place most probably during the reign
of Henry VIII., but there are no recorded facts to give the date of the
spoiling of the stately buildings. The materials were probably sold to
the highest bidder, for in the town of Guisborough there are scattered
many fragments of richly-carved stone, and Ord, one of the historians of
Cleveland, says: 'I have beheld with sorrow, and shame, and indignation,
the richly ornamented columns and carved architraves of God's temple
supporting the thatch of a pig-house.'

The Norman priory church, founded in 1119, by the wealthy Robert de Brus
of Skelton, was, unfortunately, burnt down on May 16, 1289. Walter of
Hemingburgh, a canon of Guisborough, has written a quaintly detailed
account of the origin of the fire. Translated from the monkish Latin, he
says: 'On the first day of rogation-week, a devouring flame consumed our
church of Gysburn, with many theological books and nine costly chalices,
as well as vestments and sumptuous images; and because past events are
serviceable as a guide to future inquiries, I have thought it desirable,
in the present little treatise, to give an account of the catastrophe,
that accidents of a similar nature may be avoided through this calamity
allotted to us. On the day above mentioned, which was very destructive
to us, a vile plumber, with his two workmen, burnt our church whilst
soldering up two holes in the old lead with fresh pewter. For some days
he had already, with a wicked disposition, commenced, and placed his
iron crucibles, along with charcoal and fire, on rubbish, or steps of a
great height, upon