THE western entrance into Malton has seen recent developments in both housing and education: the 1850 map shows quite a few roads meeting at the top of Newbiggin, whilst a more recent one (1980) shows something similar.

Gazette & Herald: The maps shows roads meeting at the top of NewbigginThe maps shows roads meeting at the top of Newbiggin (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Gazette & Herald:

Nowadays that same junction is controlled by traffic lights, and certainly seems to be much more complicated.

The small, enclosed area at the centre of the junction has decreased in size over the years and it has never had an 'official' name, although colloquial titles ('sparrow park' etc.) have been used in the past.

Three post cards of the junction are shown (with the park to the left).

Gazette & Herald: Three post cards of the junction are shown with the park on the leftThree post cards of the junction are shown with the park on the left (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Gazette & Herald: The postcards range from the early 1900s to 1961The postcards range from the early 1900s to 1961 (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

These range from the early 1900s up to 1961 where decorations were in place for the royal guests returning from the reception at Hovingham Hall following the wedding of Catherine Worley and the Duke of Kent.

Gazette & Herald: Decorations in place in 1961 for the royal guests returning from the reception at Hovingham Hall following the wedding of Catherine Worley and the Duke of KentDecorations in place in 1961 for the royal guests returning from the reception at Hovingham Hall following the wedding of Catherine Worley and the Duke of Kent (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Special trains were laid on at Malton station to transport the guests back to London.

The road to Hovingham (now the B1257) seems to have been at one time the normal way to reach Teesside and Tyneside: an old map (1700s) gives directions from Butcher Corner up Wheelgate to 'Swinton and Newcastle.’

Also, before the development of the railway system, Broughton Rise/Newbiggin junction was the focal point for the arrival of convoys of animals to be auctioned at the nearby Cattle Market.

These visitors were kept overnight in the nearby Pinfold.


Read more from Howard: A look back at Malton’s Finkle Street


Such traffic commonly came from Teesside across the North Yorkshire Moors via a well-used 'Drover's' route which was still marked as 'old Yarm to Malton Road' on maps in the late 1800s.

Nearer to Malton, they generally continued their long journey along a high ridge of land parallel to the B1257 and still known (at Slingsby) as the 'sheep walk.’

Howard Campion is a trustee at the Malton and Norton Heritage Centre.