14. Hovingham Village and Saxon-Medieval Church of All Saints

Scenes around Ryedale and the Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire

 Malton and Howardian Hills Index

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The Village of Hovingham

Looking down on to the village of Hovingham.

Many attractive stone houses and cottages.

The school with its 'Gothic' polygonal oriel window of 1864.

The 'stable' entrance to Hovingham Hall, the house of the Worsley family. The vaulted archway leads into the Riding School.

Above the capstone it reads VIRTUS IN ACTIONE CONSISTIT

The Malt Shovel

The top end of the Village Green.

The bottom end of the Village Green, the stable entrance to the Worsley house and the Church.

The Worsley Arms (bottom pictures) is a late Georgian building and the Green in front is a popular venue for car-boot sales!

The Anglo-Saxon-Medieval Church of All Saints

This was much restored and rebuilt by Rhode Hawkins in 1860 except for the sturdy and splendid west tower which is Anglo-Saxon and unbuttressed - to the credit of the builders!

Left: Anglo-Saxon stone in the Church of all Saints, Hovingham

Right: Romanesque style Saxon west doorway at the base of the tower.

A couple of carved heads from a much earlier period than this Victorian? tracery.

Details of the Saxon tower with its small bell openings.

An ancient cross is set into the west wall of the tower.

Looking east down the nave.

Looking west down the nave to under the tower and the west door.

The ancient masonry of the arched doorway and east wall of the west tower.

At the east end of the south aisle is a very remarkable Anglo-Saxon sculpture. On this slab the first two small figures under the arches represent the annunciation but the rest are of uncertain representation. Comparison with other Saxon carved stones suggest a date of ~AD 800.

An interesting stained glass window - modern or very modern?

Hovingham Market

The Hovingham Market is run on the first Saturday from February to December, with extra sessions near Christmas (November 2015 illustrated above). Hovingham Village Market is run by volunteers on a non-for-profit basis promoting a range of local goods including a wide range of foods and crafts. Most stalls are in the open but there is also the community cafe and other stalls inside the village hall.

Some extra notes on Hovingham Village and the Saxon-Medieval Church of All Saints

Hovingham is one of the most attractive and historically layered villages in Ryedale, set on the edge of the Howardian Hills National Landscape. Its story weaves together Roman archaeology, Saxon and medieval religion, estate planning, Georgian architecture, and a thriving modern village life. What follows is a complete, fully grounded account of the village, its church, its amenities, and its heritage.

1. Origins & Early History

Hovingham is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) under its present name. Before the Norman Conquest it belonged to Orm, son of Gamal, and afterwards to Hugh, son of Baldric.

Name origins

The name derives from Anglo‑Saxon elements:

• houc — “place of graves”
• ing — “meadow near a river”
• ham — “settlement”

Roman presence

During the creation of Hovingham Hall gardens, archaeologists uncovered a Roman bath, tessellated pavement, and other artefacts, confirming the village lay on the Roman road between Malton and Aldborough.

2. All Saints' Church, Hovingham

All Saints' is one of the most important Saxon churches in northern England.

Saxon tower

• The tower dates from the 11th century, surviving from the original church.
• It contains a 9th‑century carved cross on the west face and a 10th‑century wheel cross high on the tower.

Rebuilding (1860)

The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1860 in a 13th‑century style by architect Rohde Hawkins.

Anglo‑Saxon sculpture

Inside is one of the most remarkable early medieval carvings in Yorkshire:

• A stone reredos slab carved c. AD 800, depicting eight human figures under an arcade with birds and plant scrolls.
• Described as one of the “most complex and ambitious” carvings of its period.

Other features

• Norman south doorway.
• Re‑set Saxon doorway in the chancel wall.
• The church is Grade II* listed.

3. Hovingham Hall

Hovingham Hall is central to the village's identity.

The Worsley family

• The Worsleys bought the manor in 1563 and have lived here ever since.
• It was the childhood home of Katharine Worsley, later HRH The Duchess of Kent.

The Hall (1750–1774)

• Designed and built by Thomas Worsley VI, Surveyor‑General to King George III.
• Uniquely, the main entrance is through a high‑roofed riding school, reflecting Worsley's obsession with horses.

Cricket & music

• The cricket pitch in front of the Hall is one of the oldest private pitches in England.
• The Hall hosted the Hovingham Music Festivals from 1886, featuring the violinist Joseph Joachim.

4. Village Layout & Character

Hovingham is a planned estate village shaped by the Worsleys:

• Many buildings were constructed or influenced by Sir Thomas Worsley, giving the village its harmonious appearance.
• A stream runs along the northern edge, complete with a ford, adding to the picturesque setting.
• The village contains 49 listed buildings, reflecting its architectural richness.

5. Pubs

Hovingham has two excellent pubs, both on Main Street:

The Malt Shovel Inn

• Stone‑built, dating to the 18th century.
• Traditional atmosphere and locally sourced food.

The Worsley Arms

• Late Georgian style.
• Known for its restaurant and as a social hub.

6. Cafés, Shops & Amenities

• Village shop
• Bakery and tea room
• Monthly Hovingham Market — award‑winning, with 30+ stalls of local produce, held at the Village Hall.
• Cricket and tennis clubs add to the village's active community life.

7. Old School

• The Church of England Primary School was built in 1864 by Lady Worsley and extended in 1888.
• It is a Grade II listed building.

8. Village Green & Setting

Hovingham's green and Main Street form one of the most attractive village centres in Ryedale:

• Georgian and Victorian buildings line the street.
• The green is used for community events and sits close to the ford and stream.
• The setting at the foot of the Howardian Hills gives the village a sheltered, pastoral feel.

9. Why Hovingham Is Special

For a visitor or walker, Hovingham offers:

• A Saxon church with nationally important sculpture.
• A Palladian country house with unique equestrian architecture.
• A harmonious estate village with historic pubs and a thriving market.
• Easy access to Howardian Hills walking routes, including Terrington, Nunnington, and the Castle Howard estate.
• A strong sense of continuity from Roman times to the present.

	Hovingham Village, North Yorkshire, Northern England: Hovingham is an attractive 'estate' village in the heart of the agricultural and gently rolling Howardian Hills in the Vale of York. There are several places offering suitable 'refreshment' including the Spa Tearoom and Bakery just by the interesting medieval church of All Saints'
	The Malt Shovel is surrounded by buildings linked to the Worsley Estate and a rather curiously designed school. There are lots of places to eat and drink in Hovingham and a few are mentioned and illustrated on this page as you walk up the main street.
	Before, or after, a pint in the Worsley Arms Hotel, you can stroll across the fields to visit the Minster Church in the village of Stonegrave. The Worsley Arms Hotel also seems to have a small but permanent art exhibition.
	McConnell Thomas Shop, Deli and Web Cafe is suitable place to rest and take a break from a the car-boot sale which seemed to stretch, very appropriately, from here down to the Spa Tearoom and Bakery!

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