Watton, East Riding of Yorkshire

History

In the 6th century Watton was home to a Frankish saint, Monegunda of Watton (though perhaps this refers to a less direct connection with St Monegundis) and in the 13th century to William de Malton, master-mason who built Beverley Minster was buried here. The Venerable Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People tells of a miracle of Saint John of Beverley that took place in Watton. It is also the setting for the 12th-century miracle story De Sanctimoniali de Wattun.

Near to the priory is the Church of St Mary which was designated a Grade I listed building in September 1966 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England. The church building is primarily of 15th century construction but some 13th century materials remain, while the south porch, and north vestry are dated 1859. The parapet to tower is 20th century.

Etymology

The origin of the word Watton is uncertain, but suggestions include:

• Old English wád, or woad, and ton meaning small farming settlement; or
• waden meaning ford; or from waétan meaning watery.

References

References

1. Monegunda is a female name meaning "overprotective" and was known from [[medieval]] [[France]].
2. Farmer, David. (2011). "The [[Oxford Dictionary of Saints]]". [[Oxford University Press]].
3. Malton, William de. "A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture". Oxford University Press.
4. (9 January 2006). "Forbidden love in Watton". BBC.
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9. "Church of St Mary, Watton". British Listed Buildings.
10. "Watton :: Survey of English Place-Names".
11. (1960). "The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names". Oxford University Press.