Sherburn
Originally a Roman travel stop on the Great North Road, Sherburn has continued to be an attraction for tourists. The Kingdom of Elmet, in which Sherburn was a key town, was formed by King Mascuid the Lame in AD440, and lasted until King Ceretic, who was killed in AD617 defending his kingdom against the invading Northumbrians led by King Edwin of Deira..
Because of its location on the Great North Road, Sherburn and its environs have witnessed several bloody battles – most notably the Battle of Bramham (1408) and the notorious Battle of Towton (1461), where 30,000 Yorkists and Lancastrians died.
Sherburn is overlooked by the impressive All Saints Church, which dates from around 1120. However, this was built on the site of a former Saxon church located next to a palace belonging to the first king of England, King Aethelstan. He gave the manors of Sherburn and Cawood to the Archbishopric of York, whose seat remained in Sherburn until the middle of the 14th century. The 15th-century Steeton Hall Gateway is a listed ancient monument situated approximately 2kms west of the village of South Milford, and is one of four similar buildings that formerly identified the corners.
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