 At the time parcels of land were let to labourers for 'cow-gates' which resulted in a reduction in poor rates.In 1892 "Bulmer's History and Directory of East Yorkshire" describes Foggathorpe as "a township containing of land lying on the bank of the Foulness river".It was described as a small village with a population of 113 in 1881, rising to 131 in 1891.