Malton is made up of two separate settlements, each with its own unique character
The area was settled by the Romans who built an auxiliary fort, Derventio, on the north bank of the river, in the area now known as Orchard Fields. The only remains are a few earthworks.
The ‘ton’ ending indicates an Anglo Saxon farm settlement and Domesday Book records a small settlement and church in what is now Old Malton.
New Malton, which is usually just called Malton, grew up as a walled settlement protected by the castle built on the site of the Roman fort. The two are separated by the wooded and grassed area of Castle Gardens and Orchard Fields. The two settlements have a very different feel, with Malton dwarfing its older neighbour.
Old Malton
Old Malton is an attractive small settlement just to the north east of its larger neighbour, larger New Malton.
The Domesday Book records a church and small settlement here. The name of Ladyspring Wood suggests there were springs near here and the church may have been built on a pre-existing sacred site.
The Saxon church seems to have been destroyed in 1138 after the Battle of the Standard between the opposing forces of Matilda and Stephen. Eustace Fitz-John, the local landowner, donated the damaged church and land to the Gilbertine order for the building of a priory. This was dissolved in the Reformation although the nave survives as the parish church.
Stone cottages line either side of the main road through the settlement.
There is a small green between the main road and Town Street. The Royal Oak Pub is here.
The Wentworth Arms is on the corner of Westgate with a thatched cottage next to it.
A grammar school was built in old Malton in 1547 and continued as a school until 1835. The building still has its small bell tower and is now a private house.
Apart from the pubs and St Mary’s Priory, there is little else to encourage the visitors to stop - there are no shops either.
The area was settled by the Romans who built an auxiliary fort, Derventio, on the north bank of the river, in the area now known as Orchard Fields. The only remains are a few earthworks.
The ‘ton’ ending indicates an Anglo Saxon farm settlement and Domesday Book records a small settlement and church in what is now Old Malton.
New Malton, which is usually just called Malton, grew up as a walled settlement protected by the castle built on the site of the Roman fort. The two are separated by the wooded and grassed area of Castle Gardens and Orchard Fields. The two settlements have a very different feel, with Malton dwarfing its older neighbour.
Old Malton
Old Malton is an attractive small settlement just to the north east of its larger neighbour, larger New Malton.
The Domesday Book records a church and small settlement here. The name of Ladyspring Wood suggests there were springs near here and the church may have been built on a pre-existing sacred site.
The Saxon church seems to have been destroyed in 1138 after the Battle of the Standard between the opposing forces of Matilda and Stephen. Eustace Fitz-John, the local landowner, donated the damaged church and land to the Gilbertine order for the building of a priory. This was dissolved in the Reformation although the nave survives as the parish church.
Stone cottages line either side of the main road through the settlement.
There is a small green between the main road and Town Street. The Royal Oak Pub is here.
The Wentworth Arms is on the corner of Westgate with a thatched cottage next to it.
A grammar school was built in old Malton in 1547 and continued as a school until 1835. The building still has its small bell tower and is now a private house.
Apart from the pubs and St Mary’s Priory, there is little else to encourage the visitors to stop - there are no shops either.
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