Kirkham Priory stands in a beautiful spot on a bend of the Derwent south of Malton, between the moors and the Wolds. The house was founded around 1130 by Walter l'Espec, the same Norman baron who founded Rievaulx, and its finest survival is the late 13th-century gatehouse, still covered in heraldic shields and carved figures including St George and the Dragon and David and Goliath.
The rest of the priory is low ruins in a riverside meadow, with a fine lavatorium (the monks' washing place) and a peaceful atmosphere. During the Second World War the site was used to test amphibious vehicles for D-Day, reputedly with a visit from Churchill.
Getting there
Off the A64 five miles south-west of Malton, postcode YO60 7JS. Small car park; the Stone Trough pub is over the bridge. Managed by English Heritage.
🏰 History & heritage
🏰 History & heritage
🏰 History & heritage