one time the village had a station on the Thirsk and Malton Line. It opened on 19 May 1853 but closed on 7 August 1964 as part of the reorganisation of the national railway system. In 1603 Sir John Harte, who was born in nearby Kilburn, North Yorkshire, built a grammar school in the village, which closed in 1894. He was also a Lord Mayor of London. Governance Coxwold is in the Thirsk and Malton UK Parliament constituency. It is part of the Stillington electoral district of North Yorkshire County Council. It is also in the White Horse ward of Hambleton District Council, which returns one councillor. A new Coxwold village website was launched in 2018. Geography Most of the buildings in the village are on a slight incline, with the church at the top. At the bottom of the hill was the village smithy, now a holiday cottage. The Fauconberg Arms Inn is on the main street. It bears the arms and motto of Baron Fauconberg and offers accommodation and a restaurant. According to the 1881 UK Census the population was 313. The 2001 UK Census put the population at 185, 161 being over the age of sixteen and 92 of those in employment. The nearest villages to Coxwold are Husthwaite to the south-west, Carlton Husthwaite to the west, Kilburn to the north-west, Wass to the north-east and Oulston to the south-south-east. Green's Beck runs south-westwards through the village to join Mill Beck, form Elphin Beck and eventually flow into the River Swale. Education The village had a primary school from 1863 until 1974. It is in the primary-education catchment area of Husthwaite Church of England School and in the secondary-education catchment area of Easingwold School. Religion Since 700 AD Coxwold has had a church at the top of the hill. The present church was built in 1420 in the Perpendicular style with an unusual octagonal west tower and is dedicated to St Michael. The chancel features a unique tongue-shaped communion rail (early 18th century). Laurence Sterne was appointed vicar in 1760. Notable residents The Rev. Laurence Sterne lived at Shandy Hall from 1760 to 1768 and the house was named by him. Shandy Hall is on Thirsk Bank at the north-western end of the village and was originally built in 1430 as a parsonage for Coxwold's village priest. It is a small brick building with a mossy, stone-covered