Colton: Roman Roads, Church and Local History

Colton’s historical character is reflected in a variety of traces: references to Roman roads, buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, and archaeological evidence of earlier settlement. These themes span different periods without merging into a single story. Those interested in local history will find both distinctive architectural features and geographical connections to roads and parish boundaries here.

Roman Roads and the Parish Boundaries

The Roman road from Tadcaster to York ran south through Colton. Another local reference concerns the Streete, described as the Roman road from York to Tadcaster and forming the northern boundary of the parish. Both details identify distinct geographical connections to the area’s history. One describes a route running south through Colton, while the other places a named road along the parish’s northern edge. Together, the route and boundary descriptions are specific historical landmarks for orienting yourself in the area.

Colton Lodge and St Paul’s

Colton Lodge is a house dating from the early to mid-18th century and is listed on the National Heritage List for England. According to tradition, it was built for the Morritt family of Rokeby Park as a hunting lodge. The cautious wording is part of this story: the connection with a hunting lodge is presented as a traditional belief. Colton Lodge is therefore notable both for its date and for this particular historical attribution.

St Paul’s, Colton belongs to a later building period. The church is a single-aisle red-brick building, constructed at the end of the 19th century. It stands in the heart of the village in its own small churchyard. Its form and materials give the description a distinct architectural character, while its central location places the church within the village. By contrast, Colton Lodge dates to an earlier century and is traditionally associated with use as a hunting lodge. The two buildings thus differ both in age and in the way their histories have been handed down.

Traces of Earlier Settlement

A possible settlement complex extends along the parish boundary between Colton and Copmanthorpe, where it meets Appleton Roebuck. Its character is thought to be Romano-British, though its date remains uncertain. This interpretation should therefore be treated with caution in two respects: the existence of a settlement complex is only considered possible, and its date has not been conclusively established. Its location on the boundary is also part of the description, placing the site outside Colton’s centre.

The Water-Enclosed Site and Its History

A site surrounded by a moat in Colton may date back to the 11th or 12th century. This dating is also a possibility rather than a certainty. On the 1596 Bolton Percy parish map, the site is depicted as covered with trees. The map records a historical state; today, the site is described as extensive remains used as permanent pasture. These details refer to distinct periods: possible origins in the 11th or 12th century, a depiction on the 1596 map, and its current status as pasture.

Written Records of Colton’s Past

Colton is mentioned in the Domesday Book. A chapel in Colton is also documented in 1254. These references concern different things: the Domesday Book entry relates to Colton, while the date refers to the chapel. Together with the references to Roman roads, the water-enclosed site and the two buildings, they paint a picture of local history spanning many periods. The individual details remain distinct: a traditional attribution is not a confirmed date, and a historical record of a chapel does not automatically describe one of the present-day buildings mentioned above.

Discover more destinations: Nawton, Ingleton, Carperby, Sneaton, Riccall, Green Hammerton, Bainbridge, Whorlton.

For the wider travel guide: North Yorkshire.