KIRBY HILL

The Romans came to Yorkshire in 71AD, mainly to protect their settlements in southern and eastern England from the Brigantes, a Celtic-speaking native tribe whose capital was Isurium Brigantium (modern Aldborough), a town just 2 miles south-east of Kirby Hill, on the southern bank of the River Ure. The Roman occupation of this part of North Yorkshire was also vital in protecting southern settlements and the important Roman town of Eboracum (York) from the marauding Picts and Scots further north. The legacy of the infrastructure built to support the Roman occupation of the area is evident in and around Kirby Hill even today.

 

Roads

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Dere Street was a vital artery connecting Eboracum (York) to northern Roman Britain. Stretching from Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum) to Catterick (Cataractonium), this route facilitated trade, military movements, and governance in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. One fascinating section of this road runs from Milby through Kirby Hill, providing a glimpse into the Roman legacy etched into the landscape.

Starting at Milby, Dere Street diverges from the modern village of Aldborough, following a northward trajectory. The road aligns with the River Ure, utilizing natural topography to ensure efficient travel. It passes through Kirby Hill, a strategic settlement during Roman times due to its elevation and proximity to vital waterways.

The Roman engineers constructed Dere Street with meticulous precision, employing layers of gravel and stone to create a durable surface. While much of the original route has been obscured by centuries of agricultural and urban development, remnants remain evident in field boundaries and sections of modern roads.

From Kirby Hill, Dere Street continues northward, heading toward Catterick, a significant military hub. Today, walking this path offers a tangible connection to Roman Britain, blending history with the serene beauty of North Yorkshire’s countryside.

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Buildings

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The south-west cornerstone of All Saints Church, Kirby Hill, built in 986AD, is an inscribed Roman stone that has been relocated and re-used when the church was erected. Although badly weathered, the stone's inscription was recorded some years ago and appears to be a posthumous dedication to the Roman Emperor Caracalla, who died on 8 April 217AD. The rest of the inscription is possibly a name like [Fi]rmi[nus], followed by the formula o[b] hon[orem], which would suggest the dedication of a statue to mark the holding of local office, perhaps the joint annual magistracy (duumviratus).

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In 2025, an exciting new discovery was made on a site just south of Kirby Hill being investigated for potential housing development. North Yorkshire County Archaeologist, Peter Rowe, reported the discovery of a possible Romano-British settlement on the site as follows:

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"The geophysical surveys have identified significant anomalies across the development site. These are particularly concentrated in the eastern part of the proposal where the anomalies are complex. The anomalies are all consistent with later prehistoric or Roman occupation, with those in the east having a very urban appearance with dense concentrations of features lined along a main street. The anomalies also appear to have good time depth with overlapping features suggesting a longevity to the complex...

...the deposits form part of the hinterland of the Roman town of Aldborough and this raises their significance. The remains have the potential to be of national significance and of equivalent value to a Scheduled Monument."

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Further Exploration

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While the Roman presence at Aldborough is well-known and a permanent team of archaeologists from the University of Cambridge has explored the site for many years (and continues to do so), there has been little to no exploration north of the River Ure, nearer to  Kirby Hill. Now that a new Romano-British settlement has been discovered here, the community looks forward to discovering much more about the Romans at Kirby Hill...​​

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