HISTORY OF CHAPEL COTTAGE, STUTTON, YORKSHIRE 1828 - 1868

Tithes / Chapel Opened?

Chapel Cottage, Stutton

Following the death of his father in 1827, Michael Coulson inherited the cottage and close of associated land. Like his father he was a dedicated Methodist and in 1827 was a trustee of the new Weslyan Methodist Chapel in the Hght Street, Tadcaster, which had been built in that year.

Sometime before 1829 the upstairs of the cottage was converted into a Preaching Room for the use of the Wesleyan Methodists. The downstairs remained a cottage probably comprising two rooms. Evidence indicates that the Chapel was accessed through an external staircase with brick supports and probably wooden steps. In 1895 a Mr. Bilbrough, Builder of Stutton, was engaged to repair the “brick support to the steps leading to the Mission Room’. In 1829 there was one service weekly on a Sunday at 9:30

Artists Impression of the Cottage when in use as a Chapel, Circa 1840

Artists Impression of the Cottage when in use as a Chapel, Circa 1840

A selection of interesting items from the Methodist Archives relating to the Chapel are listed below:

Local Preachers Meeting 19th September 1836
Resolved : That the Superintendent inquire of Bros Bulmer why he neglected Stutton the last appointment he had there (Note: with no telephones the congregation would have assembled with no minister!)

Local Preachers Meeting 28th December 1840
Resolved : That the Sunday morning preaching at Stutton be discontinued (Note: services continued at other times and during the week)

Local Preachers Meeting 29th September 1851
Resolved : There shall be preaching at Stutton every Sabbeth, to commence at 2:30 in the afternoon

In 1837 the Stutton Methodists had 3 members, this increased to 16 by 1848 and 27 by September 1852. The class leader in 1848 was Mr. George Hutchinson he remained until July 1856 when Michael Coulson himself took over.


In 1843 we have our second map of the district which relates to the Tithe Commission. Tithes, a tax, had been payable to the Church since ancient times and were usually payment in kind (i.e. every 10th chicken or sack of corn). By the middle of 19th Century many people objected to paying tithes to the established Church when they themselves were dissenters (Baptists, Methodist, etc), also the owner of some tithes has passed to lay people following the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th Century. During the 1830s and 40s tithes were abolished and the records of the tithes commission detailed this work.

The cottage and close of land is listed as follows

No of Map : 75 Landowner: Michael Coulson

Occupier: Taylor

Description: Cottages, 3 roods

25th April 1843

1843 Tithe Map Title, Stutton

1843 Tithe Map, Stutton

Stutton Tithe Map 1843 - Cottage Marked Red

1849 saw the publication of the first official ordnance survey map of Yorkshire. This map is important because it is accurate with regards to scale. The previous maps of 1798 & 1843 can only be used to show a general layout of the village.

1849 Ordnance Survey Map, Stutton

1849 Ordnance Survey Map, Stutton - Cottage Marked Red

In the 1840s the railway came to Stutton and Michael Coulson sold some of his land to the York & North Midland Railway who were constructing a line from Church Fenton to Harrogate. Stutton Station opened on the 10th August 1847. Due to it’s proximity to Tadcaster it closed to passenger traffic on the 30th June 1905 although goods were accepted until the whole line closed in the 1960s

Circa 1860 Ordnance Survey Map, Stutton

Circa 1860 Ordnance Survey Map, Stutton - Cottage Marked Red, Railway Marked Yellow

Stutton Railway Staion Circa 1950

Stutton Railway Station Circa 1950 , now converted into a private house



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