Walls Bounding Churchyard Of St Mary'S Priory Church

The walls bounding the churchyard of St Mary's Priory Church in Old Malton largely date to the mid-18th century, with some elements from the early 19th century, and incorporate remains from the 12th-century original priory church. The walls are constructed of coursed squared stone, with sections of rubble stone and brick; the priory remains are of ashlar. The copings are of stone and pantiles, and the gates and railings are cast iron.

On the north side, double gates feature fluted rails with spearhead finials and bands pierced with quatrefoils. The square piers are approximately 2 metres high, standing on moulded bases and displaying Gothick tracery panels, overhanging cornices and shaped caps. Flanking screen walls are about 1 metre high, serpentine in plan, with flat copings and railings that match the gate rails.

The west wall is roughly 1.75 metres high, with flat copings and gables at intervals to house inset headstones. The south wall varies in height, with a sloped pantile coping. This section incorporates four inset, gabled headstones. Further east, an original connecting doorway from the church's south aisle to the priory cloister survives; this is now closed by double gates similar to the churchyard entrance gates. The doorway has a round arch of two roll-moulded orders, beneath a moulded hood. Although largely decayed, one waterleaf capital remains on the doorway’s shafts, as does a defaced piscina to the east.

The east wall includes the remains of the priory crossing tower piers. Near the north-east angle of the present church, a reset doorway, possibly from the priory chapter-house, is visible. It features a round arch of two orders, the inner roll-moulded and the outer enriched with beakhead, on shafts with scalloped capitals. To the south of this doorway lies a defaced cartouche with a winged cherub head. Along the north wall, adjoining Holgate's House, a parish coffin shelf is set below a long timber lintel.

The churchyard occupies the site of the Gilbertine Priory of St Mary, which is designated as an Ancient Monument.