The Green Man Family Inn

History of the Market Town of Malton

Roman Malton was centred on Orchard Fields, off the Old Malton Road. Although there’s not much to be seen there today, the site has yielded several important archaeological discoveries, many of which can be seen in Malton Museum which is situated in the town square.

Looking down past The Talbot Hotel in Yorkergate, Old Malton, you see a road full of listed buildings, dating back to the twelfth century. The town grew up around St Mary’s Priory, which today is the only remaining Gilbertine Monastery church in England.

Malton, like many other towns in the Middle Ages, was enclosed within a wall. The wall no longer exists, but now four streets – Wheelgate, Castlegate, Yorkergate, where The Talbot Hotel stands, and Old Maltongate – are named after the four-gated entrances to this popular market town.

Malton hotel visitors were once able to visit the town’s own racecourse, and it is still one of the main centres of horse racing in the north. One of Malton’s most famous racehorse trainers was John Scott, better known as “The Wizard of the North”. His record of five Derby winners, eight Oaks, seven 2000 Guineas, three 1000 Guineas and an amazing 16 St Legers still stands today.