In 1086, the king held one estate at Folkton, later it passed to the Gant family. A mesne lordship was held by the Greystock family, early members of which were Walter son of Ives and his son Ranulph (fl. 1162x75). The advowson was with the Greystock family. Land in Folkton was granted to Rievaulx in 1158, other communities also received gifts of land in Folkton (VCHER ii, 166-7).
A rector of Folkton is mentioned between 1162 and 1175. There was a chapel at nearby Flotmanby (mentioned once) which seems to have been dependent on Folkton church.