East Cowton / Atclay Cowton / Atlow Couton / Cottune / Cuton / Long Cowton / Magna Couton / Temple Couton

There are two [one multiple-place] entries for [East] Cowton [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [https://opendomesday.org/place/NZ3003/east-cowton/] [accessed 14 November 2019] neither of which mentions cleric or church in it. The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (York North Riding, vol. 1, 1914) notes: "The advowson of the church afterwards known as that of St. Mary of Cowton was given by Conan son of Elias to Bridlington Priory, and his gift was confirmed by Pope Eugenius and King Stephen [r. 1135-1154] [...] The church appears to date from the 14th century, although it is not improbable that there is earlier work in the walling of the nave; but it has been so much altered in its details since its erection that there is no original detail left except in the chancel. It is now a mean-looking little building, and being at some distance from the village, and in a bad state of repair, has been abandoned in favour of a new church built in the village. [...] The font is of 12th-century date, cylindrical in form, with a cable mould and edge roll at the top and zigzag carving on the sides. One of its old staples remains, and it shows signs of having once been painted." Morris (1931) notes a baptismal font of the 12th century here. Pevsner (1985) writes: "Font. Norman, of tub shape, with horizontal zigzags."