The parish comprises the village of Sancton and the hamlet of Houghton and is located on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds. It covers 809.9ha including grazing land, arable land, forestry and the typical wold dry valley. In the 2011 census there were 286 people living in the parish, with a wide range of occupations including village based farming, game-keeping and hospitality and commuters working in education, health, construction and commerce.
The parish has an outstanding children’s nursery and an award winning gastropub. It also has an active village hall providing activities throughout the year.
The parish church, All Saints, is a listed building with a 15th century tower octagonal from base to the top of the lantern tower, a unique feature in the UK. It has a thriving congregation with popular all-age services. The Methodist Chapel was built in 1815 and enlarged in 1840, and continues to hold well attended weekly services. It is associated with the Jackson family. Thomas Jackson was born in Sancton, the son of an agricultural labourer, and became President of the Wesleyan Conference in 1838 and again in 1849. The old school building, now a private nursery, was rebuilt in 1870 as a memorial to Thomas and Samuel Jackson.
Sancton has a long history as shown by archaeological discoveries of a Romano-British farmstead and 2 cemeteries with urn burials dating to Anglo-Saxon times. Sancton was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Santun/Sautune that is Sand Town. In 1765-68, Houghton Hall, a grade I listed Georgian country mansion, was built for Marmaduke Langdale, 5th Baron Langdale and the grounds landscaped with lake.
The benefits of the 20th century were slow to arrive in Sancton, as older villagers can recall pupils collecting buckets of water from the village pump to deliver to their school.
Annual Meeting 2025
The Annual Meeting of Sancton Parish Council will be held on Monday 19th May 2025 at 18:45.
Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Latest News/Events
VE Day 80 Commemoration
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the village came together for a series of events of remembrance and celebration at the Village Hall. Organised and hosted by the Village Hall committee, the events were funded by a grant from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Guests enjoyed a traditional afternoon tea, wartime music, a themed quiz, and a commemorative film showcasing key moments from the end of the war. The VE Day 80 flag was proudly flying in the community, with the Tommy sculptures and patriotic bunting looking fantastic and adding to the atmosphere. The event brought residents of all ages together to honour this significant moment in our history—thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a memorable success
Exploring a New Green Space for the Village
We are in the very early stages of exploring the potential to develop the allotment site and/or the back field into a community forest or green space. This exciting project could create opportunities for tree planting, wildlife habitats, outdoor learning, and peaceful recreation for residents of all ages.
We are currently consulting with Humber Forest and East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC), both of whom are very positive about the project’s potential. Early ideas include tree planting throughout the site and the creation of natural pathways to encourage gentle exploration and connection with nature.
A community consultation session with Humber Forest will be arranged soon to gather residents' views and ideas—watch this space for updates and ways to get involved.
Village Pump & Pond Project
The village pond refurbishment project has transformed a much-loved community space at the heart of the village. Improvements included restoring the historic pump, freshening up the bench by repainting the sides and replacing the bench wooden slats and planting new spring bulbs. Funded by a grant from the Sancton Hill Windfarm Fund and supported by local volunteers, the project has made the area a more attractive and welcoming spot for residents and visitors to enjoy all year round.
