Pictures of Old Malton

About Old Malton

This delightful village nestles beneath the shadow of the Howardian Hills close to the rivers Rye and Derwent. It is a lovely old place with a gentle atmosphere, and is perhaps best known for its beautiful Gilbertine Priory Church which was begun in the 12th century. The church, dedicated to St.Mary is built from what remained of the former priory, the nave, part of the facade with a carved doorway, and the south-west tower. Here amongst other treasures you can see excellent misericords, one with a painted green man. Old Malton Priory was chief of all the Gilbertine monasteries until Henry VIII sacked Rome.

A number of wealthy people were attracted to this pleasant area when Ryedale first began to open up. The picturesque scenery was surely the main attraction, but the good gallops and ideal hunting conditions must have encouraged many a gentleman to adopt this lovely part of Yorkshire as his home. Old Malton has fine stone houses, quaint cottages, and in the wider area there are attractive ancient farmhouses to be seen. The Wentworth Arms first opened its doors in the year 1700 as a coaching inn on the road to Pickering. Today, it is as warmly welcoming as it was all those centuries ago, and has fortunately managed to retain much of its historic character.

Old Malton lies just a short distance from Malton, a town with a wonderful market place that still looks very much as it did a hundred or so years ago. Malton had associations with Charles Dickens, he is understood to have been a frequent visitor in the town. The Old Lodge Hotel is converted from the former gate-house of what was once a grand manor house, and for those keen on touring historic homes, the centuries old Castle Howard is within easy driving distance of both Malton and Old Malton.

This is beautiful walking, riding and fishing country where at every turn you see mother nature clothed in all her glory. As such, both Old Malton and Malton make ideal destinations to use as a base from which to explore the North Yorkshire Moors, and the stunning coastal scenery between Flamborough Head and Whitby.