All about Malton

Here are a few questions that get asked about Malton.

Where does Malton get its name?

The Romans built a legionary fortress in Malton under the rule of Agricola (AD 77–83), naming the settlement Derventio. This heritage is still celebrated today with an annual Roman Festival held each July.

Old Malton appears in the Domesday Book as Maltune, meaning Middleton. When a newer settlement developed a mile down the road, it became known as New Malton - later shortened simply to Malton. As a result, the original settlement adopted the name Old Malton to distinguish between the two.

When is Malton’s market?

Visit Malton’s Traditional Market which takes place each Saturday in the Market Place where you’ll find a range of stalls with fresh food, gifts, art and more between 9am – 2:30pm.

Monthly Arts and Crafts markets are held between March and December, usually on the last Saturday of the month alongside the Traditional Market.

Is Malton dog friendly?

Yes, absolutely. North Yorkshire is generally very dog‑friendly, and Malton is no exception. You’ll find that most cafés and pubs welcome well‑behaved dogs, and the town has a great reputation for being pet‑friendly. In fact, Malton has even been voted one of the most dog‑friendly towns in the UK.

Did Charles Dickens live in Malton?

No, Charles Dickens himself did not live in the town, though his brother did!  Alfred Dickens was a civil engineer who worked on the York to Scarborough railway line in the 1840s, he and his family lived in the town and Alfred's office was in the town centre.  Charles Dickens also had good friends in the Malton area and is known to have visited on several occasions.