Malton: Howard Campion looks back at Old Maltongate

OLD Maltongate is far less dominated by retail than the three other streets it links to at Butcher Corner.

One of its pubs – The Swan – did exist until recent years and Wilkins’ Garage closed a long time ago so there are now no retail units.

The thoroughfare crossed the town wall as it left Malton so it is very likely that a gate and associated structures existed at this point around the end of East Mount.

Certainly, there is physical evidence of the wall to be found locally in private gardens.

Unfortunately, it also manifested itself in other ways – its associated ‘ditch’ has proved to be less than ideal as a basis for supporting house foundations…

The wall’s course beyond East Mount is less well defined but it probably ran parallel to Old Maltongate so it is very likely that the lower part of St Leonard’s Lane follows part of its route.

The site of the former fish market is reached across the other side of Castlegate (marked by X on the map).

A map of the area with the site of the former fish market marked with an X (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

This trading area had its own cross – now buried and said to be up to four feet in girth.

It may have been the precursor of Malton’s present extensive market place.

Old Maltongate was once a hindrance to traffic at Butcher Corner.

For many years it was offset with regard to Yorkersgate and this sometimes resulted in long articulated road vehicles having to undergo complicated manoeuvres when either accessing or leaving it.

In pre-bypass days, one can imagine the frustrations it caused to coast-bound day tripped (“are we there yet?”).

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Eventually, some buildings to its left were demolished thereby resulting in its present overall width and improved traffic flow.

 On the right, meanwhile, there are buildings of interest – number 36 has been found to have historical features. Some structural items are thought to have been reused from the abbey at Old Malton after its northern tower was destroyed by fire.

Further on, the entrance to the Old Lodge Hotel actually goes through what was the outer wall of the Jacobean mansion.

Malton Castle is behind there awaiting excavation.

Adjacent to it is the Roman fortress and its civilian area both of which have been investigated and documented.

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