SOME years ago, the late Des Reed ran a column ‘Town Talk’ in the Gazette and Herald and there had been a discussion regarding the origin of an old Malton street name ‘Flower (Flour?) Lane.’

Ultimately, it was decided that the name was linked to a large flour mill that once existed in the area and owned by Mr Hurtley.

Gazette & Herald: Former flour mill on Railway Street, MaltonFormer flour mill on Railway Street, Malton (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

A painting exists (artist unknown) and it can be seen that it was near to both the Abbey and a weir in the nearby River Derwent: this was an energy source for the mill.

However, the weir was an impediment to most river traffic.

The River Rye feeds the Derwent just North of Old Malton and there was potential for commercial traffic into neighbouring Ryedale.

Gazette & Herald: The painting shows that the flour mill was near to both the Abbey and a weir in the nearby River DerwentThe painting shows that the flour mill was near to both the Abbey and a weir in the nearby River Derwent (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Therefore, in 1845 the Rye and Derwent Drainage Board decided to remove the weir in order to facilitate traffic to the North.

The flour mill was demolished and its operations shifted to a site adjacent to the Derwent in Railway Street.

According to contemporary press reports, the Rye ‘fell by eight feet’(!) when the weir was destroyed.

Mr Hurtley eventually moved to Hull and the premises became a biscuit factory for a while but they are now in residential use.

Gazette & Herald: The premises on Railway Street later became a biscuit factoryThe premises on Railway Street later became a biscuit factory (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

A contemporary press cutting tells of an ill-fated delivery of a barge load of bricks from Malton to Garforth Hall near Amotherby.

Gazette & Herald: The press cuttingThe press cutting (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Two brothers carried out the manoeuvre but they argued and scuppered their cargo whilst en route.

It is probably still there - I wonder where?