North York Moors
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about North York Moors from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of North York Moors' most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Beck Isle Cottage the Thatched Cottage
Thornton-le-Dale
Beck Isle Cottage, a 17th-century cruck-framed house in Thornton Dale, features a thatched roof and historical interior elements like jointed crucks and a butterfly-hinged spice cupboard.
Cawthorn Roman forts and camp including a section of medi…
Cropton
Cawthorn Roman forts and camp offer rare insights into Roman military strategy with well-preserved structures, contributing to the understanding of Roman conquest in northern England.
White Cross boundary marker known as Fat Betty on Danby Moor
Rosedale East Side
Fat Betty, a medieval boundary marker on Danby Moor, is a 10th or 11th-century wheel-head cross without its shaft, marking historic parish boundaries.
The Abbey Church
Ampleforth
Roman Catholic abbey church designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built in two phases, 1922-24 and then 1958-61. The attached monastic and school buildings are not included in the listing.
Wayside cross and boundary marker known as Young Ralph on…
Westerdale
Young Ralph is a well-preserved medieval wayside cross on Westerdale Moor, significant for its role in marking routes and boundaries, now a symbol of the North York Moors.
Simon Howe: a round cairn on Goathland Moor, two associat…
Goathland
Simon Howe features a Bronze Age round cairn, round barrows, a standing stone, and a stone alignment, offering insights into prehistoric burial and ritual practices on the North York Moors.
World War II Radar station 600m east of Bent Rigg Farm
Staintondale
Bent Rigg Farm radar station represents a significant World War II site demonstrating the development of British radar technology.
Former Troutsdale School House
Broxa-cum-Troutsdale
Small, single roomed rural school house, circa 1870.
Mauley Cross in Cropton Forest 580m north of Hill Top Farm
Stape
Mauley Cross is a medieval wayside cross serving as a religious symbol and waymarker beside a Roman road. It's a significant historical artifact, marking ancient routes.
Kirby Bank Trod, a section of paved trackway extending 40…
Kirkby
Good surviving section of engineered trackway believed to have originally been constructed for Rievaulx Abbey in the late C12 or C13.
Rievaulx Terrace
Rievaulx
Rievaulx Terrace, laid out in 1758, showcases spectacular valley views and Rievaulx Abbey ruins, highlighting English Landscape style development. It's preserved by the National Trust.
Roman signal station at Goldsborough, 130m south east of …
Lythe
Roman signal stations were crucial military observation and signalling structures, aiding defensive systems.
Roxby Hill manorial complex and associated ridge and furr…
Thornton-le-Dale
Roxby Hill offers a well-preserved example of a deserted medieval manorial settlement, reflecting diverse historical settlement patterns and the evolution of manorial communities.
Duncombe Park
Rievaulx
Duncombe Park, established in the early 18th century, is notable for its English natural style gardens, historical connections to Helmsley Castle, and ongoing restoration projects.
Medieval dyke known as Green Dike
Fylingdales and Hawsker-cum-Stainsacre
Green Dike, an early medieval estate boundary, is significant for understanding territorial boundaries from the prehistoric through medieval periods, associated with Whitby Strand by Lady...
Prehistoric field system, medieval rabbit warren and post…
Levisham
Regular aggregate field systems, like those at Rhumbard Snout, date from the Bronze Age to the fifth century, offering insights into ancient agricultural practices and social changes.
World War II bombing decoy, 500m north west of John Cross
Fylingdales and Hawsker-cum-Stainsacre
The WWII bombing decoy site on Sneaton Moor used "Starfish" and "QL" techniques to divert bombers from Middlesbrough, preserving key structures by simulating urban lighting and bomb damage.
Lilla Cross on Lilla Howe, Fylingdales Moor
Fylingdales and Hawsker-cum-Stainsacre
Lilla Cross, a 10th-century standing cross on Fylingdales Moor, serves as a historical boundary marker for Whitby Abbey lands and medieval parishes, highlighting early medieval Christian...
Malo Cross, 450m south east of Nab Farm
Allerston
Malo Cross, a 17th-century stone cross by Sir Richard Egerton, marks parish boundaries. It reflects religious beliefs during James I's reign and survived iconoclast destruction.
The Buck Inn
Thornton-le-Dale
The Buck Inn, located on Cross Street, Thornton Dale, is a historic 18th-century house and former butcher's shop, now part of a public house. It features distinctive architectural elements.
Extensive prehistoric and medieval remains on Levisham Moor
Levisham
Levisham Moor holds extensive prehistoric and medieval remains, including Bronze Age barrows and dykes, Iron Age settlements, and a medieval grange, showcasing diverse historical land uses.
Mulgrave Castle
Lythe
Mulgrave Castle's park, designed by Humphry Repton, features Romantic landscaping with dramatic scenery and historic ruins, framed by picturesque woodlands and coast views.
The Fish
Fylingdales
The Fish, possibly the oldest collecting box still in service for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, is a good example of Victorian foundry craftsmanship.
Ana Cross round barrow and wayside cross
Lastingham
Ana Cross is a well-preserved round barrow with a modern cross, illustrating prehistoric and medieval cultural landscapes.
Two Iron Age round barrows and a Bronze Age round barrow,…
Wykeham
The two Iron Age and one Bronze Age round barrows in Highwood Brow are well-preserved, offering insights into prehistoric funerary practices and societal development.
World War I early warning acoustic mirror 60m east of Bou…
Loftus
Sound mirrors, including the Boulby mirror built in 1916, were early 20th-century UK acoustic devices used for detecting aircraft; important for national defense.
The Thieves' Dikes: prehistoric linear boundaries and ass…
Suffield-cum-Everley
The Thieves' Dikes are prehistoric linear boundaries that showcase impressive earthworks, significant for understanding land use and social dynamics in the Bronze and Iron Age.
Alum quarries and works 800m north of Sandsend Bridge
Lythe
The alum quarries at Sandsend show early British chemical industry activities, preserving evidence of quarrying and processing from the 18th to 19th century.
Lady Lumley's Almshouses
Thornton-le-Dale
Lady Lumley's Almshouses, founded by Lady Elizabeth Lumley in 1657, is a historically significant 12-unit residence with 24-bay front, restored in the 19th century.
Three round barrows in Wykeham Forest, known as the Three…
Brompton
The Three Tremblers are three ancient round barrows in Wykeham Forest, crucial for understanding prehistoric burial practices and society.
Hunter's Sty Bridge
Westerdale
Hunter's Sty Bridge, a late 13th-century ribbed medieval bridge over the River Esk, reflects historical construction techniques and was restored in 1874 by Octavius Duncombe.
Cropton Hall Garth: a motte and bailey castle including l…
Cropton
Cropton Hall Garth, a well-preserved Norman motte and bailey castle, holds medieval manor house remains, important for studying post-Norman Conquest feudal development.
Byland Abbey Cistercian monastery: monastic precinct, wa…
Byland with Wass
Byland Abbey, a major Cistercian community in Yorkshire, features early Gothic architecture and a rare water-management system, showcasing extensive archaeological remains.
Mount Grace Priory Carthusian monastery: monastic precin…
East Harlsey
Mount Grace is the best-preserved Carthusian monastery in England, showcasing unique features like individual monk cells around a cloister, highlighting its historical and architectural...
Medieval dyke known as War Dike
Staintondale
Cross dykes like War Dike served as medieval land boundaries and hold archaeological importance for understanding historical land divisions and settlement patterns.
Section of Cleave Dyke prehistoric boundary on Hambleton …
Boltby
The Cleave Dyke on the Hambleton Hills demonstrates prehistoric territorial boundaries and World War II decoy shelters used for military deception during air raids.
Moated site at Low Laithes Farm, Whitby Laithes
Hawsker-cum-Stainsacre
The moated site at Whitby Laithes survives well, offering insights into medieval social and economic practices, with significant remains from the period being rare in the area.
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Search for more listed places in North York MoorsNorth York Moors through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how North York Moors changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of North York Moors
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Ampleforth
Ampleforth Abbey and College, Ampleforth, 1929
Ampleforth
Ampleforth College and environs, Ampleforth, 1935
Helmsley
All Saints' Church and the remains of Helmsley Castle with the East Tower undergoing conservation, Helmsley, 1929
Helmsley
Helmsley Castle and the town centre, Helmsley, 1947
Mulgrave Castle
Mulgrave Castle and Stable Building, Mulgrave Castle, 1948
Mulgrave Castle
Mulgrave Castle and Stable Building, Mulgrave Castle, 1948
Rievaulx
Rievaulx Abbey, Rievaulx, 1948
Rievaulx
Rievaulx Abbey, Rievaulx, 1948
Goathland
The Mallyan Spout Hotel, Goathland, 1950
Goathland
The Mallyan Spout Hotel and St Mary's Church, Goathland, 1950
North York Moors in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of North York Moors' past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Charles George Harper Collection
Sneaton Wood, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A hermitage folly carved into solid rock in Sneaton Wood
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Bank Top, Rosedale, Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1967
A view looking down onto the tops of calcining kiilns at Hollins Ironstone Mine, Bank Top
John Gay Collection: Counties
Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1950s
A view looking down onto St Mary's Church, now isolated from the village of Levisham, but thought by local legend to be all that remains of an earlier...
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Date created: 28 Jun 1923
A view looking north-west across the ruins of what was formerly the nave of the church at Rievaulx Abbey
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1900 - 1930
EXTERIOR ELEVATION OF STONE AND PANTILE DETATCHED HOUSE
Walter Scott
Hambleton, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1939
A view looking south-east along the main street in Coxwold, past Mrs Barker's grocery store and the adjacent house on the north side
Charles George Harper Collection
Forge Valley, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A wooden footbridge across the stream in the Forge Valley
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Bank Top, Rosedale, Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1967
A view looking down towards a car parked beside spoil heaps at Hollins Ironstone Mine
John Gay Collection: Counties
Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1950s
A view looking down onto St Mary's Church, now isolated from the village of Levisham, but thought by local legend to be all that remains of an earlier...
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Date created: 16 Jul 1923
The arched entrance to the refectory at Rievaulx Abbey
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1900 - 1905
EXTERIOR VIEW SHOWING THE SOUTH FRONT
Walter Scott
Hambleton, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1939
A view looking south-east along the main street in Coxwold
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about North York Moors. Skip this section and go to education
The S&DR Darlington Lime Depot
Mentions North York Moors Railway Lime and Coal Cells Attached to Southern End of Goathland Station
Reporting on the significance of rare survival of a once common building type.
10 Lesser Known Places Linked to King Henry VIII
Discover the lesser-known historic sites linked to Henry VIII, including Whitehall Palace, Windsor Castle, Rievaulx Abbey, and Eltham Palace, London.
8 Images of a Frosted England
Mentions Rievaulx Abbey, Three round barrows 600m NW of Steeple Cross
Baby, it’s cold outside!
7 Things You May Not Know About the Battle of the Somme
Mentions Commondale Shepherds' Memorial
The Battle of the Somme was a joint offensive by the British and French forces.
England’s Quirkiest Listed Places
Mentions The Fish
You can search every list entry for free online and some may surprise you.
A Brief Introduction to Ancient Paths and Highways
Mentions Kirby Bank Trod, a section of paved trackway extending 400m southwards from just east of The Warren
From main roads connecting towns and cities to meandering green lanes and mysterious paths to nowhere, our highways and byways are steeped in history.
England’s Record Breaking Heritage
Mentions The Fish
The Guinness World Records celebrates 60 years of extraordinary achievements this week, from globetrotting explorers to sports heroes smashing records.
The S&DR Darlington Lime Depot
Mentions North York Moors Railway Lime and Coal Cells Attached to Southern End of Goathland Station
Reporting on the significance of rare survival of a once common building type.
The English Railway Station
Mentions North York Moors
The first-ever national survey of these iconic structures has been published by Historic England.
New Survey Techniques Enhance Interpretation of a Monastic Landscape at Rievaulx Abbey
Mentions North York Moors
Find out how landscape archaeology is adding to our knowledge of the significant medieval abbey at Rievaulx, North Yorkshire.
Heritage at Risk, Volunteering and Wellbeing
Mentions North York Moors
New research illuminating the relationship between volunteering on Heritage at Risk projects and wellbeing.
War Memorials Listed Ahead of Armistice Day
Mentions Goathland War Memorial
First World War memorials in England have been listed ahead of Armistice Day. Many of them also commemorate those lost during the Second World War.
Heritage Across the Country Benefits from Latest Funding from the Culture Recovery Fund
Mentions North York Moors
Over 470 heritage organisations across the country to benefit from the second round of Culture Recovery Fund grants
Heritage at Risk in England Revealed in 2020
Mentions Kirby Bank Trod, a section of paved trackway extending 400m southwards from just east of The Warren, North York Moors
Historic England has revealed the historic sites most at risk of being lost forever as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
More Than 2,500 Poignant War Memorials Listed During Four Year Project to Commemorate First World War Centenary
Mentions Commondale Shepherds' Memorial
Through the First World War Memorials programme, 2,645 First World War memorials have been listed, more than doubling the amount previously listed.
War Memorials to Airmen Listed to Mark Centenary of the Royal Air Force
Mentions Memorial cross for Probationary Flight Officer Francis Titcomb (the Swinsty Cross)
To mark the centenary of the RAF, 14 war memorials to airmen are being listed or upgraded by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
Battle of the Somme Memorials Listed
Mentions Commondale Shepherds' Memorial, North York Moors
We mark 100 years since one of the bloodiest battles in the First World War with 15 war memorial listings
Two Outstanding Yorkshire Churches Now Grade I Listed
Mentions The Abbey Church
Ampleforth Abbey and St Charles Borromeo, Hull upgraded to Grade I
North York Moors' social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Whorlton Castle, Whorlton, North Yorkshire
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This gatehouse is all that remains of a motte and bailey castle. The castle was built in the early 1100s. It was called the castle of Potto in 1216.
Whorlton Castle, Whorlton, North Yorkshire
Rosedale Abbey, Rosedale East Side, North Yorkshire
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This is all that remains of Rosedale Abbey (Priory).
Rosedale Abbey, Rosedale East Side, North Yorkshire
Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A view of Robin Hood's Bay, looking north-east over the rooftops of the village towards the Bay and the cliffs beyond.
Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire
Rievaulx Abbey, Rievaulx, Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
Rievaulx Abbey, a Cistercian monastery, was founded in 1132.
Rievaulx Abbey, Rievaulx, Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Reading Room & Library, Fylingdales, North Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The exact date of this building is not clear. In 1891 is was bought on a 1000 year lease by Rev. R.J. Cooper, Vicar of Fylingdales Parish.
Reading Room & Library, Fylingdales, North Yorkshire
Rawson Syke, Farndale East, North Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This photograph is titled 'A Homestead'. It appears to be a house with a series of barns and outbuildings built in a row.
Rawson Syke, Farndale East, North Yorkshire
Primary School and Presbytery, Egton, North Yorkshire
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This is an historically interesting building. It was built in c1790.
Primary School and Presbytery, Egton, North Yorkshire
Old Mulgrave Castle, Lythe, North Yorkshire
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
These are the overgrown remains of Mulgrave Castle. It was built in 1214.
Old Mulgrave Castle, Lythe, North Yorkshire
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary. Skip this section and go to related locations
Duncombe Park, Helmsley, York, North Yorkshire
The sweeping grass terraces, towering veteran trees, and classical temples of Dunscombe Park are described by historian Christopher Hussey as 'perhaps...
Discover more
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