University Archives
Foulis family, of Buckton
The Foulis family owned Buckton Hall near the cliffs at Speeton, East Yorkshire. Smugglers' tunnels run between the hall and the cliffs. The house was built in 1744 by John Robinson (d.1769), who inherited Buckton manor. He married Hannah Foulis and settled his estate on his daughter Hannah Robinson and her husband, William Foulis. By this means Buckton passed from the Robinson to the Foulis family of Ingleby. The Foulis family was originally from Scotland and had a long history of public service to Scottish monarchs. William Foulis was secretary to James I in 1424 and keeper of the privy seal in 1427 and David Foulis came to England with James VI of Scotland in 1603. He was knighted in 1619 and given Ingleby as a reward for service. William Foulis and Hannah Robinson's son, John Robinson Foulis (d.1826), married Decima Hester Beatrix Sykes, eldest daughter of Christopher Sykes, 2nd baronet Sykes of Sledmere. Their son, Mark Foulis (d.1868), slid into financial difficulty and did not marry. The estates were sold after his death. The Foulis family papers contain title deeds, tenancy agreements, rentals and some stewards' accounts. There are notes on the family history and the hall and miscellaneous material includes a cultivation book 1853-1868 and an 1864 plan for the building of an outdoor privy. [DP/166; DDX/16/209]