Kirkby Bank Trod

Trods are a unique type of ancient footpath, formed of stone flags and linking villages across the high North York Moors.

Kirkby Bank Trod is one really good example which has listed-monument status because of its architectural and historical significance.

Kirkby bank Trod is thought to be medieval in origin and forms part of the Pannierman Way.

This ancient route runs from the village of Kirkby, near Stokesley, southwards up Kirby Bank and then over Cold Moor to Chop Gate in Bilsdale; and onwards to Rievaulx Abbey near Helmsley.

The route is believed to have been constructed for packhorses by the Monks from Rievaulx Abbey.

It was probably designed to link the Abbey, the church in Bilsdale, and the Monastic Grange at Normanby; and other landholdings on the Coast and along the River Tees.

Rievaulx Abbey is known to have exploited the River Tees for fresh fish and salt.

In the post-medieval period, Kirby Bank Trod remained as a useful route for transporting goods from the Cleveland Plain onto the high Moors.

Fore example, Alum shale was exploited in the 17th Century.

Kirby Bank was also exploited for building stone from at least the mid Eighteenth Century.

Even today, you can still see the sledge-ways extending down the hillside from the quarries, which tend to converger on the trod.

From 1842, Kirby Bank was also exploited for Jet to supply the jewellery trade in Whitby.

Nowadays, the flagstones have been re-exposed by a local history society which maintains the path which remains a public footpath.

The surviving flagged section runs from a point just east of The Warren, southwards uphill for just over 400m to a gateway onto the open moorland of the upper part of Kirby Bank.

The route continues southwards up the hill, but appears to have been disturbed by later sledgeways and quarrying activity.

At intervals along the trod there are small, low, stone pillars that are interpreted as guide posts or waymarkers.

The three most southerly (and uphill) waymarks are formed by pairs of stones, one on each side of the trod, the other waymarks are single stones, one of which has been reused as an Ordnance Survey bench marker.

The Kirkby Bank Trod is well worth a look and a walk for anyone visiting the North York Moors and looking for some real history.