URPoint Details
Topcliffe a village situated on the River Swale with the name is derived from the Old English words topp and clif and combined give the meaning top of the cliff
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Topeclive" in the "Yarlestre hundred." At the time of the Norman invasion, the manor was the possession of Bernwulf. Afterwards it was granted to William of Percy. The manor became the chief seat of the Percy family until the middle of the 17th century, though there was some confusion of the line of inheritance in the 12th century. There was a short interruption to this line in the 15th century when the manor was granted to the Neville family following the death of Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland at the Battle of Towton in 1461, where he was fighting for the Lancastrians who lost.
Location: 5 miles (8.0 km) south-west of Thirsk
- Type:
- Landmark