Norton-on-Derwent

North Yorkshire

Commercial Street, Norton-on-DerwentChurch Street, Norton-on-DerwentRiver Derwent, Norton-on-DerwentDerwent Swim and Fitness CentreNorton-on-Derwent is a town in the former Ryedale district of North Yorkshire.

Norton is a near neighbour of the market town of Malton at the opposite side of the River Derwent.

The River Derwent is the boundary of the historic North Riding and East Riding of Yorkshire at this point. Norton is on the East Riding side but was moved into the North Yorkshire county at the time of local government reorganisation in 1974.

Malton railway and bus station are actually in Norton although a river bridge places them slightly closer to the centre of Malton.

Town features

Norton-on-Derwent was in the historic East Riding of Yorkshire.

The town is on the River Derwent.

The town has a range of shops and supermarkets.

The town has a sub-Post Office.

The town has pharmacies.

Norton-on-Derwent has a choice of pubs.

Pub and restaurant dining can be found in Norton-on-Derwent.

Takeaway food outlets in the town include fish and chips, chinese, pizzas, burgers, kebabs, sandwiches.

The Derwent Swim and Fitness Centre in Church Street offers a swimming pool and gym.

Norton Hive Library and Community Hub is in Commercial Street.

Norton-on-Derwent has schools.

Places of worship: Anglican, Methodist, other.

Places to visit

North York Moors National Park

The Ryedale district north of Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside and Pickering includes some of the beautiful scenery of the North York Moors National Park. The park covers a total of 554 square miles (1,435 square kilometres). Within its area are moorland and coast, historic stateley homes, remains of castles and abbeys and attractive villages. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway provides a historic railway journey into the National Park from Pickering. For more information see our page dedicated to the North York Moors.

Pickering Castle

Castlegate, Pickering
Pickering Castle was originally built as a Norman motte and bailey timber castle at a time when the Manor of Pickering was held by the king, William the Conqueror, as recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. It was mostly rebuilt in stone between 1180 and 1236, although the stonework of the outer bailey was not completed until about 1326 in the reign of Edward II. The castle then guarded the nearby forest, was also used as a court and prison and was the place where Edward II's royal stud was managed. The castle's remains are well-preserved in comparison to some other castles as it did not suffer during the War of the Roses or the English Civil War. The castle is managed by English Heritage.

More information at the English Heritage - Pickering Castle website.

Find on map: Pickering Castle

Helmsley Castle

Castlegate, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

Helmsley Castle is at the western side of Helmsley overlooking the River Rye. The ruins provide an insight into the development and remodelling of the castle between the 12th and 14th centuries and the Tudor mansion house created on the site in the 16th century. An unusual feature of the early castle was the creation of two great towers rather than the more common single keep. Through most of its life it was the centre of a family estate, but the castle was briefly in royal hands when in 1478 it was bought by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who owned the castle until his death as King Richard III in 1485. In the English Civil War the castle had been held for the Royalists, but surrendered to Parliament in November 1644, after which it was slighted. The castle, managed by English Heritage, is generally open daily through the spring and summer with Friday and weekend opening times through the autumn and winter months. Helmsley is also the location of an English Heritage archaeology store for the north of England which can be visited on pre-bookable tour dates.

Find out more at the English Heritage - Helmsley Castle website.

Find on map: Helmsley Castle

Rievaulx Abbey

Rievaulx, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire
The first Cistercian abbey in the North of England was founded in 1132 but became one of the most important in the country, quickly growing to a 650-strong community within its first 30 years. However by the time of supression of the monastery in December 1538 the number had fallen to 23 monks. The abbey in the valley of the River Rye in the North York Moors National Park has substantial remains, particularly of its 13th century church which were saved from further collapse by repair work 100 years ago. The abbey also has a museum containing architectural stonework and other artefacts found at the site, including chess pieces, coins and small personal possessions. The visitor centre also has a tearoom. Rievaulx is 2.5 miles west-north-west of Helmsley and about 11 miles east of Thirsk. The abbey is managed by English Heritage.

More information at the

English Heritage - Rievaulx Abbey website.

Find Rievaulx Abbey on map

Nunnington Hall

Nunnington
Nunnington HallSituated on the banks of the River Rye, around a 7 mile drive from Helmsley, 10 miles from Malton and 13 miles from Pickering, Nunnington Hall offers the chance to explore period rooms of a Yorkshire manor house. Although there has been a large house at the site since the mid 13th century, the present Hall has developed from one of the Tudor period with extensive remodelling in the late 17th century. The house has an organic walled garden, spring flowering meadows and a tea room. It also houses one of the finest collections of scale miniature period rooms, offers a changing programme of art and photography exhibitions and hosts various events including the Ryedale Book Festival. The house is managed by the National Trust.
More information at the

National Trust - Nunnington Hall web pages.
Locate on map:

Nunnington Hall

Byland Abbey

Byland, near Coxwold, North Yorkshire
Byland Abbey features the ruins of one of the largest and grandest Cistercian abbey churches in England. Completed towards the end of the 12th century, it is noted for its Gothic architecture which inspired that in other church buildings, including York Minster. The lower portion of a huge rose window gives some idea of the scale and magnificence of the building before the dissolution of the monastery. The abbey also has tiled floors surviving from the 13th century. The abbey is in the North York Moors National Park about 5 miles south-west of Helmsley (6 miles by road) and 8 miles east-south-east of Thirsk (12 miles by road). The abbey is managed by English Heritage.

More information at

English Heritage - Byland Abbey website.
Find on map:

Byland Abbey

Goathland

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

GrosmontPickering to Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby
A heritage railway running for 18 miles through the beautiful scenery of the North York Moors National Park. The line runs from Pickering, through Goathland, one of Yorkshire's famous TV and film locations to Grosmont with some journeys extended over the Network Rail Esk Valley line to the picturesque seaside harbour town of Whitby. The 10,000-member charitable Trust behind the railway celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 and the line is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the restoration of passenger services in 2023. With more than 350,000 passengers a year the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is possibly the most popular heritage railway in the world.

For details see the

North Yorkshire Moors Railway website.

Castle Howard

The Stray, between Welburn and Coneysthorpe, near Malton
Castle HowardOne of Britain's finest stately homes is set in 1,000 acres of grounds scattered with temples, statues and follies. Situated about 5 miles west of Malton, it has been home to the Howard family for more than 300 years. The grounds have been opened to the public all year round and the house from April to October. Built to a design of Sir John Vanbrugh, work began in 1699 and took more than 100 years to complete. The house was beautifully restored after a devastating fire in November 1940. More recently Castle Howard has become familiar as Brideshead of the 1980s TV adaptation and 2008 film version of Evelyn Waugh's 'Brideshead Revisited'.
Further details can be found on the Castle Howard official website.
Locate on map:

Castle Howard

Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum

Eden Camp Museum, MaltonOff Edenhouse Road, near A64/A169 junction, Malton
The museum, just north of the A64 Malton by-pass, is the site of what was established in 1942 as a Second World War camp to house Italian Prisoners of War. It also provided accomodation for Polish forces for a time before returning to use as a prison camp for German prisoners. After a number of post-war uses, a museum was opened in 1987 and has seen a growing number of displays in the original camp huts concentrating mainly on the Second World War but also covering the home front and post-war housing with further exhibits on the First World War and conflicts since the Second World War.
Further details at the

Eden Camp website.

Flamingo Land

Kirkby Misperton
Opened as a zoo in 1959, Flamingo Land has since the 1970s been blended with a growing number of theme park rides and now also offers a holiday village. The resort, covering 375 acres, is situated 3 miles south-south-west of Pickering and 5 miles north of Malton.

Kirkham Priory

Kirkham, near Malton
Situated in a beautiful section of the Derwent Valley around 5 miles south-west of Malton are the remains of the Augustinian Kirkham Priory. The Grade I listed priory dates from the 1120s and includes an impressive portion of its late 13th century gatehouse with sculptures of St George and the dragon, David and Goliath and heraldry of the lords of Helmsley Castle. Church walls from the 13th century and stone foundations also remain. The site is managed by English Heritage.

More information at the

English Heritage - Kirkham Priory website.
Find on map:

Kirkham Priory

Sheriff Hutton Castle

Sheriff Hutton, North Yorkshire
The village of Sheriff Hutton has the spectacular towering ruins of a medieval castle. The stone castle was built during the 1390s on a different site from an earlier 12th century wood and earthwork castle in Sheriff Hutton, built by the Sheriff of York. In the 14th century the land passed to the Neville family, which was responsible for raising the crenellated stone building. The quadrangular design with stone towers at its corners was of similar style to the more intact Castle Bolton, near Redmire. Just over 70 years after its building, Sheriff Hutton Castle became a royal castle. In the year before his marriage in 1472 to Anne Neville it was granted to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who would 11 years later begin his short reign as King Richard III. Middleham Castle, granted at the same time, would however become the main residence for Richard's household. The castle remained in Crown hands and, in the 1520s, for a few years became the childhood home of Henry FitzRoy, the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII. Young Henry was born in 1519 to Elizabeth Blount, lady-in-waiting to the queen, Catherine of Aragon. The decay of the castle started in the 1600s when the castle was sold and stone was plundered for buildings around a new manor house. Today, the castle ruins and adjoining farm continue to be in private ownership, but are now promoted as a wedding and events venue. The ruins can, however, be easily seen from footpaths surrounding the castle site.

More information at the

Sheriff Hutton Castle website.
Find on map:

Sheriff Hutton Castle

Wharram Percy

Near Wharram-le-Street
Wharram Percy is the best preserved of many deserted medieval villages across Yorkshire. Situated in a beautiful hidden valley in the Yorkshire Wolds, the village was abandoned early in the 16th century after being occupied for around six centuries before that. The part-ruined church with its half-collapsed tower provides some clues as to when the village initially grew. Foundations of other buildings have also been exposed during archealogical excavations. The village can only be reached by a walk along sometimes muddy paths, the nearest road being just under a mile away. However, the deserted village offers an attractive place to pause on longer walking routes, including the Yorkshire Wolds Way and Centenary Way.
Find out more at the

English Heritage - Wharram Percy website.

Travel

Malton station Railway Street

Malton station is in Norton-on-DerwentMalton station is in Norton-on-Derwent. It is within easy reach of both towns, but is marginally closer to the centre of Malton via a river bridge.

Destinations include
Eastbound: Seamer 17, Scarborough 24
Westbound: York 26
Typical fastest journey times in minutes.
Recent service reductions
Few trains currently operate directly beyond York to Garforth, Leeds, Huddersfield, Stalybridge and Manchester.

Bus travel

The town has bus services to neighbouring towns and villages, the Yorkshire coast, York and Leeds.

Road travel

Norton-on-Derwent can be reached via the B1248 .

Emergency services

North Yorkshire Police

North Yorkshire Police website.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service website.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust website.

Local government

Civil parish council

Norton Town Council
Provides some local services in the area.
Link to council website

Norton Town Council

Unitary authority

North Yorkshire Council

The North Yorkshire Council is a new unitary authority formed from the previous County Council from April 1, 2023. It covers the existing county duties including highways, schools, libraries and transport planning over an area of 3,109 square miles while also taking over the responsibilities of the seven huge district authorities also created in 1974 — Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby — these including local planning, waste collection, street cleaning, parks and car parks, housing and markets serving a population of around 615,500*.

Councillors were elected to the County Council in 2022 and continue as councillors of the new North Yorkshire Council unitary authority. There have been a few by-elections to fill councillor vacancies since then.

Places in North Yorkshire

Link to council website: North Yorkshire Council

^ Area figure from ONS Standard Area Measurements 2022 (converted from hectares).
* Population figure from Census 2021 (combined total of former districts).
Contains public sector information licensed under the

Open Government Licence v3.0.

Political composition:

453CI 1311 NY Ind92 LC421

90 members

CI = Conservative & Independent NY Ind = North Yorkshire Independents group LC = Labour & Cooperative
Composition and groupings - source North Yorkshire Council (February 2024)

Strategic authority

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was created in December 2023 combining the unitary authority of York and the unitary authority of North Yorkshire — that created in April 2023 after the abolition of the county authority and its seven district authorities. The combined authority will run some functions under the new mayor elected in May 2024 as part of the government's so-called "Devolution deal" which ties the availablity of funding to the new governance arrangements. As well as having powers over housing development, transport and boosting skills and education across the 3,214 square miles of York and North Yorkshire, the elected mayor also takes on the role and functions of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner across the area.

Elected mayor: ❚ David Skaith Labour & Cooperative

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority website.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire
Covers the county of North Yorkshire and City of York. This role is being transferred to the new elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire in 2024.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire website.

Parliamentary constituency

Thirsk and Malton
Elected MP: ❚ Kevin Hollinrake Conservative

National government region

Yorkshire and the Humber

Ceremonial county

North Yorkshire

Historic

Before 1974: Within the East Riding of Yorkshire, which had the River Derwent as its northern boundary.
1974: Ryedale district of new County of North Yorkshire was formed mostly from parts of the North Riding, but also areas of the East Riding of Yorkshire south of the River Derwent, including Norton-on-Derwent. Malton was the administrative centre of the Ryedale district.
1996: Ryedale was reduced in size when the City of York expanded and became a unitary authority. Although the area lost was relatively small compared to the overall area of Ryedale, it did house around half its original population.
2023: Ryedale district and the County of North Yorkshire were abolished as a new unitary authority of North Yorkshire was formed covering the county area and the seven large district authorities within it, including Ryedale.

Also in Yorkshire.guide

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