Village of the Week: The Yorkshire riverside settlement that used poor house funds to celebrate Royal Coronation

And of course, it is highly likely that York was occupied much earlier than Naburn but there are signs that Naburn was home to some people as early as the 1500s.

The lovely people that live in and care for Naburn village nowadays have compiled a historical account of it and believe that local records suggest there were people with the name ‘ferryman’, thus pointing towards the likelihood that there may have been a ferry across the Ouse at Naburn from early times.

Prior to that, and the Norman Conquest, Naburn was held by two Saxons, named Turgot and Turchil.

After the Conquest, it was given to Robert de Todeni, one of the Conquerors standard-bearers, from whom the Rutland family is descended. In 1086 there were two main estates recorded at Naburn, the one belonging to Robert de Todeni and the other to the King.

The larger estate passed by way of marriage to the Aubignys until it passed, in 1284–5, to Robert de Ros. The Ros interest was mentioned as late as 1434. About 1200 the Watervills were lords of the manor of Naburn under the Aubignys. Richard de Watervill assigned the manor to William Palmes in 1226 and the estate, complete with Naburn Hall, remained in the Palmes family until the death of Commander George Bryan Palmes in 1974.

In 1739 a ferry was situated near Naburn Hall, but by the early 19th century it was in competition with a horse and foot road that led from the village street, past the hall and across the ings to a ferry close to Acaster Malbis.

The latter ferry is said to have been started by the Thompsons of Escrick after Beilby Thompson married Dame Sarah Dawes and was intended to provide a connection with her estate at Acaster.

Due to increased traffic, it proved a nuisance to the Palmes family at Naburn Hall and in 1824 they closed the road with the ferry moving to a point near the middle of the village, where the slipway remains today. The new ferry, for passengers and vehicles, was later worked by wheel and chain and closed in 1956.

The running of Naburn is now a little more straightforward and a little less based on the passing of estates and titles.

Naburn Parish Council was installed by a Parliamentary Act in 1874 and there was a clamouring for councillor places. Seventeen candidates applied for 11 places.

In notes documenting the origins of the Parish Council, something crops up that would be quite unthinkable these days, and is quite a contrast to the Naburn we see today and which is a sought after location to live, work and leisure.

The Parish Council, upon being established and consisting mainly of landowners and farmers, took over the running of the “poor houses” in Naburn. They were in Moor Lane and said to be a “disgrace to the Village”.

Rents for the poor houses between 1894 and 1918 made the parish council the sum of £165.15 but the money paid out in repairs and maintenance was £158.15.

The typed document, which says a sub-committee of the parish council was formed to inspect the houses and report back on repairs needed, reads “These poor houses were a constant cause of nuisance and expense to the parish council until finally demolished when the district council bungalows and houses were built in 1937.”

Mind you, in 1902, it was agreed that the balance of the Poor House Fund would be used to pay for celebrations for the Coronation of King Edward VII.

With its proximity to York and the water, particularly the Marina, Naburn could be considered one of the area’s most sought after locations to live.

There is only one house currently for sale in the village, which is a mix of traditional, older properties - possibly dating back to the same time period that the ferry started running.

There are newer homes too but vast, sprawling, boxes of homes have not taken over. Newer developments are smaller in size and either dotted in between or perched on the edge of the more established houses.

You can tell this by how ‘non-uniform’ the streets are with yards and boundaries in all manner of shapes and sizes around the village.

It makes for quintessential and quaint kerb appeal. Houses are narrow red brick with pantile roofs, big windows, grand front doors and neat rows of privets. The newer houses seem to blend in well.

Village life and community is strong.

Naburn C of E primary school, dates back to 1872, has around 80 pupils and was graded outstanding by its last Ofsted report.

The village hall, given a massive overhaul in 2009, is central to village events from the summer gala to the Christmas bazaar, quiz nights, children’s birthday parties, and group and club meetings.

It becomes the local Polling Station on election days.

Like all good villages, Naburn has a local pub. There used to be three here in the mid 18th century, but by 1822 only the "Horse Shoe" remained.

By 1872 it had acquired its current name of “The Blacksmiths' Arms".

And of course, the afore-mentioned parish council is still going strong and priding itself on working to “improve village life by providing excellent facilities, maintaining the village in good order and creating a sense of pride and community.”