Running parallel to the town’s cattle market, Malton’s Spital Street is a street steeped in history. Howard Campion, a trustee at the Malton and Norton Heritage Centre, reports.  

IT has to be said that the term 'Spital' refers to an ancient hospital or similar establishment.

The Broughton hospital is on 'Spital Hill' whilst another local example is Spittal Beck which drains through Foston into the Derwent below Kirkham Abbey.

Archaeological features are, however, not prominent in Spital Street but it certainly does lead to a couple of them that are relevant (at Broughton and Cross Keys proceed to the Newbiggin junction and turn left or right respectively).

Alternatively, of course, straight ahead and into Princess Road takes one to the relatively modern Cottage Hospital site (now Princess Court flats)

During a time of post the Second World War austerity, its 'British Restaurant' was a well known (and utilised) feature.

One remembers it as being always crowded, but this was hardly a surprise considering the price list shown here!

Gazette & Herald: British Restaurant menu (1947)British Restaurant menu (1947) (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

It had been a Quaker Meeting House then an adult educational establishment (the Pioneer Club), which also served dinners for those pupils at the local schools as well as providing recreational facilities.


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Sadly, it was destroyed by fire some years ago and its place has been taken over by supermarket car parking but there are remnants of the original building still there.

Gazette & Herald: Pioneer ClubPioneer Club (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Across the road, no.4 Spital Street was where the original 'discos' began before they were accommodated and established in the Milton Rooms during the later 1950s.

The Blacksmith's shop is still very much there but since Mr William Darmon retired it had been used by Les Lyons for upholstery work.

Gazette & Herald: Blacksmith’s shop Blacksmith’s shop (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

The bus for Terrington (Hope's) always parked outside the forge, and across the road, Mrs Brown's sweet/tobacco shop as well as Miss Garnet's lemonade sales will not be forgotten.