Middlecave Road in Malton has seen many changes over the years, and may have even been where a woman who influenced Charles Dickens once lived. Howard Campion, trustee at the Malton and Norton Heritage Centre, reports.
THIS road begins at the Cattle Market and ends on a pedestrian bridge over the by-pass. Its lower (town) end was at one time known as Pinfold Road. Many people quite rightly ask of the origin and significance of the name Middlecave. The word ‘cave’ is something to do with a stream, but more needs to be researched.
Middlecave was an area where there were cottages as well as a windmill. Its general location is ringed in red to the right-hand side of the aerial photograph, with the Grammar School (now Malton Secondary Second East Wing) ringed to the left in order to define it. The 1850 and 1926 maps further show its place. There is a sketch of a farmhouse and windmill, and the much altered dwelling is most probably the penultimate house in Middlecave Road.
John Blanchard has found a sale notice for these properties in an August 1860 Malton Messenger where a corn mill (three stones), cottages and land are advertised and occupied by David Watson. It is thought that previous owners were Knaggs.
Read more from Howard Campion:
- A look back at Malton's Spital Street
- A look back at Malton's Milton Rooms
- Looking back at The Shambles in Malton
Further down Middlecave Road are Malton secondary schools and it is said that Kathleen Ferrier (contralto, 1912-53) once gave a private concert at the Grammar School. Further down, Quarry Cottage (1850 map) could have been where an elderly lady lived whom Charles Dickens modelled as one of one of his characters.
In 2014/15, proposals were put forward for a 500-house settlement (High Malton) to be built on land between the bypass, Middlecave Road and Castle Howard Road, but nothing has been reported for some time.
The area is shown to the right-hand side of the aerial photograph.
In 1950 the Great Yorkshire Show was held in fields off neighbouring Castle Howard Road – one remembers that as being an exciting time!
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