Artist David Work visits Etton and Cherry Burton this month on his Journal-commissioned tour of the region. But how much do you know about these historical villages . . .

A view of Main Street in Etton

Who would have thought that during this year’s Presidential elections in the United States that a small East Yorkshire village would be able to claim numerous connections to some of the main players? But that was most certainly the case with Etton.

It raised quite a few smiles at the time when newspapers reported that, as well as the then President, George Bush, and former Presidents, George Bush Snr, Franklin D Roosevelt and Ulysses S Grant, Sarah Palin, the so-called political “pitbull” and running mate of US Republican Presidential candidate John McCain, had links to the village.

All are said to be descendants of one of the US’s first spiritual leaders, the Rev John Lothropp, who was born in Etton in 1584.

The East Yorkshire connection led former American President George Bush Snr’s sister, Nancy Bush Ellis, to visit the village to trace her family roots a couple of years ago.

Staff at East Riding Council’s archive centre, the Treasure House, in Champney Road, Beverley, confirmed Lothropp was baptised at St Mary’s Church, Etton, in 1584.

The kennels for the Holderness Hunt are based in Etton and David’s painting shows the hounds being exercised

St Mary’s, incidentally, is a Grade II-listed building.

Both Etton and the neighbouring village of Cherry Burton have always been two of the most popular of East Riding villages, with properties in high demand. Both are also established centres of the arts, with Etton home to the long-running Processed Pea Folk Club and Cherry Burton village hall staging regular musical and theatrical events.

Cherry Burton has almost the unique distinction of being a “Fairtrade” village; only the second in the whole country to be so recognised.

The Fairtrade status was achieved in 2003 and over the past few years, members of the local community have been active in promoting the use and sale of fairly traded and locally produced goods in the local shop, school, pub and various other organisations.

Sadly, both Etton and Cherry Burton were badly affected by the severe flooding of 2007.

According to the 2001 UK census, Etton has a population of 285 – the civil parish incorporates the hamlet of Kiplingcotes. Cherry Burton, meanwhile, had a recorded population of 1,473.

David’s painting of Main Street, Cherry Burton, with the Bay Horse public house on the right

Looking towards Highgate in Cherry Burton