Where is Northallerton?

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Northallerton is located in the County of North Yorkshire, England, approximately 30 miles to the north of York, and 10 miles north of Thirsk. It is the County Town and administrative centre for North Yorkshire, and formed an important stopping place on the ancient "Great North Road". The town has grown around its imposing "High Street" which still retains an atmosphere from the days of "Coach and Horses" particularly in the form of the Golden Lion Hotel, a traditional coaching inn in the centre of the High Street.

In 1914 Northallerton had a population of about 5,000 people, including those in the local workhouse and the inmates in Northallerton Prison. The town's housing accomodation was characterised at that time by a series of small back to back terraces leading off either side of the High Street and known locally as "The Yards". These "yards" were largely demolished during the 1950s. Northallerton also housed then, as it still does today, the headquarters of the local Territorial Army battalion, the 4th Green Howards (known during WW1 as the Yorkshire Regiment). It is not surprising, therefore, that when war broke out, many men joined their local battalion and the fortunes of Northallerton and its surrounding villages became inextricably linked to the fortunes of the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, in France and Belgium.

Photo of Memorial Unveiling The Unveiling of the Northallerton Memorial.
The Northallerton Memorial is located in the south-eastern corner of the All Saints Parish Church and faces back down the High Street. It was unveiled on 6th August 1921, and was dedicated by the Vicar of Northallerton, the Revd. Samuel McKinnon Thompson, whose only son, Charles, was killed in 1916. The First World War names are grouped according to rank and alphabetically within each rank. The Memorial also commemorates those Northallerton residents who lost their lives in World War Two and has a special inscription dedicated to No. 6 (Canadian) Bomber Group, who operated from the many airfields established around Northallerton in World War Two.
Romanby lies to the south-west of Northallerton, but the expansion of both places now means that it is impossible for the casual visitor to distinguish between them. Romanby's imposing Village Green provides evidence of its past status as a separate village, together with the fiercely independent nature of many of its residents!
Photo of Memorial Unveiling The Unveiling of the Romanby Memorial
The Romanby Memorial is sited about 50 yards to the west of the Green and takes the form of a commemorative Clock Tower in an area of gardens. The Memorial was erected in the mid-1920s and the majority of the gardens were established when an additional area of land was donated by a Mr. John Todd, of Romanby, in 1930. The names are carved into panels set into opposite sides of the tower and are simply listed in alphabetical order, with no distinction being made according to rank. A further tablet has been added to the memorial to commemorate those killed in World War Two.
Brompton lies just to the north of Northallerton, but has not quite been "swallowed up" by development as Romanby has. Brompton's development was due largely to the establishment of two linen mills in the 19th Century, which, at that time, made it one of the largest villages in Yorkshire.
photo of Memorial The Brompton Memorial takes the form of a lychgate at the entrance to the Parish Church with panels inside commemorating those of both World Wars who lost their lives. The First World War soldiers are listed on two panels, one on each side of the interior of the lychgate and are listed in the order in which they were killed, though no dates are given.