Malton: a look at the tunnels beneath the Cross Keys pub

THIS hostelry has interesting historical features and their context is detailed on their notice board.

A notice board outside the pub (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

It mentions two other local areas of interest which will later be dealt with - one high and dry at Broughton and the other quite waterlogged on the way into Norton.

Inside the Cross Keys and down in the cellar is a vaulted crypt from which a tunnel originates.

The living and trading area is well above street level, and steps lead up from the street into it the lower stone foundation on which the brick structure is laid.

This modern building was probably built at a higher level so as not to destroy an already existing much older structure.

The tunnel leading from the crypt (cellar) is sealed and is one of many that have often been discussed in Malton.

The tunnel leading from the cellar (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Tunnels were traditionally constructed by commercial and church organisations: they had many uses such as movement of goods (smuggling) as well as movement of personnel during times of political and religious difficulties.

We are looking here at only two of possibly many underground routes to and from various centres in the town.

Read more from Howard:

• Looking back at Malton’s Railway Street
• Norton was once home to three manor houses – but what happened to them?
• A look back at Malton's railway station
• A look back at Broughton Rise
• A defensive town wall once surrounded Malton, but what happened to it?
• Looking back at the history of York Road

It is way accepted that the Cross Keys would require linkage to at least the church in the Market Place as well as the Priory in Old Malton.

To achieve these two aims, tunnels would have to lead (a) across Wheelgate and Greengate to Old Maltogate and thence to the Priory and, (b) out of the rear of the pub and across the Market Place to the Church.

The Cross Keys as it is today (Image: Newsquest)

There have been rumours of a tunnel underneath the southern edge of the Market Place, and this would fit in with the Church as its objective (route b).

Regarding route a, there is said to be a structure under properties on the junction of Greengate and Old Maltongate, and the well-known historian Nigel Hudlestone did mention one in the construction of the Thirsk railway through Orchard Fields. Seemingly the engineers dug their cutting through a tunnel whilst later on (1996), the building of the rugby club house near Old Malton exposed tunnels.

It is interesting that the disused railway cutting near Old Maltongate could hold the key to actually exposing one (or two) of these structures (well, a couple of days or so with shovels maybe!?).

The disused railway cutting (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

There is a lot of local interest in these matters, and a petition was once organised to encourage support for work to begin.