Wragby  

Researched and written by Gill Briscoe

Wragby is best known for Nostel Priory. This very beautiful 18^th century house built by the fourth baronet, Sir Rowland Winn, is now in the care of the National Trust, but is still the home of the Winn family, Barons St Oswald. The house was built on the site of St Oswald’s Priory and the church stands in a corner of its park. No remains of the Priory exist. The Winn family are commemorated both inside and outside the church, there is a church vault  and there are several hatchments (all described in Summer’s book) on the church walls. The family’s gravestones lie together in a corner of the churchyard extension, that of Wanda Lady St Oswald , wife of Rowland Denys Guy Winn, telling its own sad story. She had been born Jaxa Chamiel Ciecirska in Poland in 1921 and was forced to flee after her country was invaded in 1939. She was never able to return, and some of the earth of her beloved homeland was buried with her in 1981.

One item of great interest in the Parish Register is: “John son of Henry Harrison jnr baptised March 31^st 1693”. This is the famous chronometer  and clockmaker and winner of the Longitude prize. His father Henry married his mother Elizabeth, nee Barber on June 7^th 1692. Henry was a joiner on the Nostel Estate and the family lived at Foulby.

Baines Directory for 1822 states that the incumbent at that date was the Rev Charles Winn of Nostel Park. The Rev John Morville, his curate, is buried in the churchyard. His gravestone is inscribed: Sacred to the memory of the Rev John Morville curate of this parish for upwards of thirty years. He departed this life Sept 12^th 1836 aged 66 years much and deservedly regretted by his friends and parishioners. Also of Mary his wife who departed this life August 31^st 1845 aged 64 years. Also of Mary Jane Bithia eldest daughter of the above John and Mary Morville who died March 12^th 1878.

The Spread Eagle whose landlord was Charles Wilson in 1822 is still there as are many of the beautiful stone cottages. Charles's name is inscribed on a large tombstone in the old part of the churchyard- he died in 1841 aged 62 years.

Wragby lies on the main Wakefield – Doncaster road close to the village of Ackworth. If your family come from Ackworth or Ryhill you may well find them in Wragby’s parish records.