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Normanby has long been a seat of the family of the Sheffield's, one of whom was created Baron Sheffield, of Butterwick,in 1547. Edmund, the third baron, was created Earl of Mulgrave, in 1626. John, the third earl, was created Marquis of Normanby, in 1694; and Duke of Normanby and Buckingham, in 1703; but all these honours became extinct on the death of Edmund, the second duke, without issue, in 1735. Sir Charles Sheffield, of Normanby, was created a baronet in 1755, and his descendant, the present baronet, enjoys a large portion of the ancient patrimony of this illustrious house. Thealby Hall, 1 1/2 mile E. of Burton, is the seat of W.H.Driffill, Esq. The Parish Church (St. Andrew,) is a handsome edifice, consisting of a tower, a nave, with aisles, and a chancel; and retaining some fine ancient Norman arches, though the exterior walls appear to have been rebuilt, perhaps in the 14th century. The east window is an exquisite specimen of stained glass, by Pearson, representing our Saviour, holding the emblems of universal dominion. In the chancel are many handsome monuments of the Sheffield family, whose vault is under the floor. On a tomb in a niche on the south side, is the mutilated figure of a man in armour, and an ancient sword. On the north side is a marble monument, surmounted by a female figure leaning on an urn. A mural tablet records that the remains of five members of the Sheffield family, noticed in Leland's Itinerary, were, on the publication of that book, removed from Ouston to this church.
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