A curious low table, famous preacher, drovers and popular walking routes: the lovely village of Osmotherley is on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, close to Cod Beck Reservoir and Mount Grace Priory. It was on important drovers’ routes from Scotland, which may be how it also came to be part of three long-distance walks: the Lyke Wake Walk, Cleveland Way, and Coast to Coast.
The Market Cross on the tiny village green is more of an obelisk. While the obelisk is relatively recent, the steps are medieval. It’s prominent and attractive in its own right, so you might miss an unusual feature next to it: the Barter Table. I don’t know whether it was always sited so close to the cross, or if it was always so low (its height seems a bit inconvenient) but it’s said that it was used as a stall in the 16th century, either for selling butter and cheese or possibly fish. In 1745 John Wesley used it as his pulpit.
Osmotherley was a popular place for pilgrims to stay, thanks to nearby Mount Grace Priory.
Another of Osmotherley’s claims to fame is the 400-year old Queen Catherine pub – I don’t think there are any other pubs in England with the same name. It’s thought to be named after King Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon.