Magical Malton’s mysterious and mind-boggling facts!

There’s few more delightful towns in the UK than marvellous Malton, nestled amidst paradisiacal countryside in North Yorkshire and a haven for food lovers and those who devour the delights of independent shops set against a backdrop of deeply historic architecture. It’s really easy to get there too, on the Coastliner bus 840 or 843 from Leeds and York or from Whitby and Scarborough. What’s more, Malton’s full of quirky, fascinating facts and gems of information. Here’s a snippet to get you all inquisitive about a trip to this top destination…

Malton has a Roman fort hiding under its green spaces.

Before it was renowned as a  foodie market town (more of which later…), Malton was the Roman settlement often identified as Derventio. The fort sat north of the River Derwent, and the lines of its defences can still be seen today in Orchard Fields. Even better, the fort appears to have been occupied from the beginning of the Roman period to its very end.

One Roman object from Malton reads like an ancient shop-opening card.

A Roman dedication stone from Malton, dating roughly from AD 275 to 325, wishes good fortune to a young slave in charge of a goldsmith’s workshop. It is thought to be the only stone of its kind so far discovered, making it a strangely personal glimpse into everyday business life near the Roman fort.

Old Malton has a rare survivor from England’s only home-grown monastic order.

St Mary’s Priory Church is not just old; it is the only church of the Gilbertine Order still in regular use. Founded in the 12th century, it is a remarkably specific piece of medieval religious history still functioning as part of ordinary local life.

Malton Castle was allegedly dismantled because of a family argument.

Malton’s medieval castle was replaced by a Jacobean mansion, then later demolished stone by stone after an inheritance dispute. In a wonderfully petty twist, the proceeds were divided between two sisters. Today, only the large Lodge and wall facing Old Maltongate remain. Castle Gardens sits on the site of the Castle and only the lodge and street-facing wall survive today

Malton may have helped inspire one of the most famous Christmas stories ever written.

Charles Dickens had family connections to Malton through his younger brother Alfred, who worked there as a civil engineer. Local tradition links parts of the town to A Christmas Carol, including claims that a Malton office helped inspire Scrooge’s Counting House and that local church bells influenced the story’s atmosphere. Bah Humbug to you too!

Malton has been called the “Newmarket of the North.”

The town’s horse-racing roots run deep, with racing in the Malton and Norton area dating back to the 1600s. The area remains a major training centre today. When Blink Bonnie won the Epsom Derby in 1857, Malton Church bells reportedly rang and the pubs stayed open all night.

Malton’s food identity is not just a modern tourism slogan…

In the 1700s, the town’s river trade helped turn it into a thriving market and coaching hub, moving produce through the Vale of Pickering and beyond. That old trading role quietly echoes in today’s “Yorkshire’s Food Capital” branding, where the town still centres itself around makers, markets, butchers, bakers, brewers and small food producers rather than only restaurants or cafés.

“Made in Malton” is more literal than it sounds.

Malton’s food identity is not just about restaurants and festivals. The town has built a community of artisan producers, including bakers, butchers, brewers, coffee roasters, confectioners and makers of speciality foods. The “Made in Malton” idea gives the town a modern identity rooted in local production rather than just visitor marketing.

Eden Camp’s next chapter is now being shaped by a heritage-attractions operator.

In February 2026, Eden Camp announced that it had been bought by York-based Continuum Attractions. The former prisoner-of-war camp outside Malton is one of Yorkshire’s best-known heritage attractions, and the new ownership is expected to shape its future while protecting its wartime storytelling and original character.

Malton’s a Great Scenic Journeys crossroads…

As mentioned earlier, this wonderful town is where two of the most renowned scenic bus journeys in the UK converge  – the Coastliner 840 from wonderful Whitby to York and Leeds and the Coastliner 843 from sumptuous Scarborough. From the medieval mysteries of York (be sure to check out the CitySightseeing York open top bus tour of the City, which is the ultimate thrills and spills unlocking of all the secrets and quirks in the City), to the atmospheric Moors and then coastal capers in Scarborough and the wonders of Whitby Abbey, a stop off in Malton will make your day. What’s more if you fancy exploring the Region, then buy a Scenic Explorer ticket off the driver which will give you the freedom of the North Yorkshire Moors and Coast area for only £10 for 1 day and £19 for 3 days. There’s group discounts too! To find out more, go to….

https://www.greatscenicjourneys.co.uk/the-scenic-explorer/

https://www.transdevbus.co.uk/coastliner/