A guide to Aldbrough St John
B&Bs | Budget | Cottages | Hostels | Pub and Bar | Self Catering |
Events in Aldbrough St John Aldbrough St John is a village in North Yorkshire, close to the border with County Durham about three miles from Scotch Corner and a short drive from the town of Darlington, close to Piercebridge on the river Tees. There is much speculation about the history of this village, including whether or not it had a castle and what its name means. The Vikings word for an old, fortified stronghold is “old burgh” and the village inhabitants suggest they may have identified the original burgh site within the village. The village, it is claimed, stands on the edge of a Brigantian campsite and that the Romans subdued the Brigantians here. They claim that John Leland in 1540, acting on a warrant from Henry Tudor, visited the area and wrote about a ruined castle at Albruch village. In 1066 during the Norman conquest, the land in Richmondshire belonged to the Saxon Earl Edwin. After the Battle of Hastings, the land was given to Alan the Red, Duke of Brittany who built Richmond castle. The land passed down to Eleanor, wife of Henry III and on her death to John, Earl of Richmond. A charter was granted by Edward I to John, the right to hold a weekly market and yearly fair. The fair, held on the eve of the feast of St Michael, is known today as the Aldbrough Feast.