More About Sessay
Sessay is a small, linear village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 4 miles south-east of Thirsk, 2 miles west from the A19 road and close to the East Coast Main Railway Line.
The civil parish also includes Hutton Sessay, Little Hutton, Pilmoor and Little Sessay where the parish church and school are located. The area is formed by 3 roads which form a triangle. Sessay is along the western edge on Sessay Garth, with Little Sessay at the southern corner. The hamlet of Hutton Sessay is at the eastern corner, about a mile away. Little Hutton is on the northern edge back towards Sessay.
Sessay is an ancient settlement that is mentioned in the Domesday book as Sezai. It lies half-way between Thirsk and Easingwold and around 16 miles north of York. The famous White Horse of Kilburn on the Hambleton Hills to the east is visible from most parts of the parish. It is believed the village location was moved in the 1600’s, possibly due to disease or war! The parish was part of the Dawnay family estates for over 400 years before being sold off at auction in 1918. The have a picturesque church and thriving school lie at the southern end of the village. Both designed by the eminent Victorian architect William Butterfield who is also responsible for a number of cottages on either side of the road at that end of the village, probably built with bricks from the brickworks in Hutton Sessay and Little Sessay (long gone now).
Map of Sessay 1856
As well as the agricultural aspect of several prosperous farms, the parish is home to many commuters to the commercial hubs of York, Leeds and Teesside and also the base for many successful small businesses.
Sport plays a vital role in the life of our villages, and there were great celebrations when the Cricket Club won the National Village Competition in 2010 and again in 2016 and finalists in 2017. On summer weekends the centre of Sessay is busy with bowls and cricket matches and the spectators who have come to support the teams. Like many rural villages we have lost our pub, post office and village shop, but the Village Hall provides a focal point for many activities and its roomy bar is staffed by volunteers and usually open for business.
The Ordnance Survey have suggested that a field near Sessay may be the geographical center of Yorkshire, although there are other claimants to this title. As far as we know there is no other place in the world called Sessay. We hope you enjoy finding out about a uniquely nice place to live!