History of Ryedale
19 August 2010
Early Habitation
The earliest evidence of life in Ryedale was discovered in caves at Kirkdale, near Kirkbymoorside, in 1821.
Limestone quarrymen discovered bones and teeth, which were identified as the remains of between 200 and 300 hyenas. This hyena’s lair, when excavated, gave up other treasures. Bones and teeth were uncovered from hippopotamus, lion, elephant, woolly rhinoceros, mammoth and reindeer.
The earliest evidence of man in Ryedale goes back to the middle Stone Age, when nomads built a birchwood structure at the eastern side of the Vale of Pickering. When carbon dated, the wood was found to date from 7,500 BC.
Later, Neolithic people are known to have occupied the Yorkshire Wolds, leaving what is thought to be the largest Neolithic barrow (burial mound) in Britain at Duggleby. The subsequent Bronze Age also left distinctive barrows, this time on the moors at, for example, Rudland Rigg.
The Romans
It is thought that the Romans arrived in Ryedale in the latter part of the 1st century AD. As they spread from York, any resistance from the Brigantes, the local farming tribes, was crushed. A fort, Derventio, was established on the bank of the River Derwent, now known as Orchard Fields. Today, visitors can see the layout of the fort and villas by viewing displays on the site. Archaeological excavations have revealed important finds, including pottery, jewellery and coins, the earliest dating back to Nero (54 – 68 AD). Many of these discoveries are displayed in Malton Museum.
Remains of a Roman road can be seen on Wheeldale Moor, above Stape, this stretch being all that remains of what was once an important link between Malton and Whitby. A Roman camp was established at Cawthorne, near Cropton, in 100AD. A display board gives details of how the site was used, and visitors walking around the plateau are rewarded with wonderful views of Cropton Forest.
Museums in Ryedale
The passing of time in Ryedale can be fully appreciated by visiting the areas museums. At Malton Museum imaginative displays depict the sophisticated lifestyles of the Centurions and civilians who lived at Malton’s Roman fort, town and nearby villas. Finds from the many local excavations are on display. The first floor houses temporary exhibitions.
Ryedale Folk Museum, at Hutton-le-Hole, has collections dating from pre-history to the 20th century. This is an open air museum, with rescued and restored buildings, including a thatched cruck cottage, demonstrating the lives of Ryedale folk in days gone by. An Elizabethan manor house, the oldest daylight photographic studio in the country and a variety of shops and workshops are some of the many delights of this museum.
Social, domestic and working lives of the 18th century are displayed in Beck Isle Museum at Pickering. Housed in a Regency mansion, there are 24 rooms packed with displays, with workshops and a collection of farming equipment outside. A collection of local photographs by Sidney Smith is a focal point.
Eden Camp, near Malton, is situated in a former Prisoner of War camp and transports the visitor back in time to wartime Britain. The spirit of civilians during the blitz is represented through sights, sounds and even smells, with social, political and military collections from this time. Eden Camp is an excellent day out for visitors of all ages, with assault courses to keep the younger visitors amused, and won the English Tourism Council’s England for Excellence Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year in 1998.
