Some Historical Highlights

"Middleton Parish is rich in archaeological remains that date from the prehistoric era onwards and which include linear crop marks, enclosures, Iron Age square barrow cemeteries and later features", so an archaeological report states.

There was a settlement before the Norman Conquest as a Church with a priest is referred to in the Domesday Book.

Before the Conquest there were four landowners and by 1087 this had been reduced to two.  Over the years landowners have included Archbishop Ealdaed, Robert de Mortain, the Earsls of Burlington, the Dukes of Devonshire, George Hudson (briefly before his public disgrace) and Lord Londesborough.  Following the agricultural depression which began in the 18070s farms started to be sold off.

The present Church was commenced about 1280 (chancel) and the nave completed about 1360.  A tower was added in 1830 and the whole building substantially restored in 1873.

The present Robin Hood car park is the site of the ancient Manor House Farm which was also the venue for meetings of the Manorial Court.

The original rectory was next to the Church.  This was demolished in 1809 and a new house was built on the estate behind the wall on Beverley Road.  This was eventually sold to Captain Brooksbank (later Colonel) and became known as "The Hall" (demolished about 1960).  Another rectory was built in 1867 (off Church Hill) and in 1947 the now privately owned house known as Warter Lodge in Warter Road was used as a rectory.

Enclosure of the land took place 1803-5 and as a result the present layout of farms and buildings was established.  The Rector became a substantial landowner.

Wesleyan Methodist chapels were built in the village - Chapel Lane built in 1809 and closed 1902 when the present chapel in Front Street opened.  The Primitive Methodist Chapel in Station Road was built in 1864 and closed in 1932.  This is now private dwellings.

The Reading Rooms opened about 1899.

The Village Hall opened in 1935.

The old school in Front Street, now dwellings, was built in 1872 and closed in 1968 when the new school in Station Road opened.

The pond originally reached the roadside.  In 1953 the side near the road was grassed and three seats provided.