Yorkshire

<p><b>Economic and social profile</b></p><p>Situated 44 miles north-west of York, on the north bank of the river Swale, Richmond, which was home to many ‘persons of independent property’, lay at the centre of an agricultural district and was described in 1849 as ‘a comparatively stagnant market town’.<fn>Lewis, <em>Topographical dictionary of England</em>, iii. 638; <em>Daily News</em>, 5 Mar.

<p><strong>Social and economic profile</strong>:</p><p>Situated at the mouth of the river Esk, 47 miles north-east of York, Whitby was a ‘wealthy and substantial’ North Sea port, ranked eighth in the United Kingdom in 1828 for registered tonnage.<fn>PP 1831-2 (141), xl. 167; T. Whellan, <em>History and topography of the city of York, and the North Riding of Yorkshire </em>(1859), ii.

<p>As the social and judicial focus of Yorkshire, and the seat of the archbishop, York was the most important urban centre in the county. Its population of about 12,000 made it one of the six or seven largest towns in England. The city government was that of a regular corporation, by mayor, aldermen and a common council of 72 ‘principal inhabitants’, though ‘the mayor has the honour here, by ancient prescription, of being called <em>my Lord</em>’. The corporation also had two sheriffs and an ‘upper house’ of 24 former sheriffs.