Vale of Mowbray

[2][3] The vale is the floodplain of the River Swale and its tributaries, including the Wiske and Cod Beck.

The villages are often linear, following the major through road, and the houses are generally brick built with pantile roofs.

Robert de Mowbray, whose family had a stronghold at Thirsk Castle, was given the land by William the Conqueror in 1086.

[4] The Natural England definition of the boundaries of the Vale of Mowbray are the edge of the North York Moors in the east up to the A19/A172 junction; directly across to the junction at Scotch Corner on the A1(M), then straight down the A1(M) for a western boundary and the rough line from the A168 at Dishforth to Thirsk in the east.

[5] Geological surveys list the Vale of Mowbray being bounded to the west by the River Ure, and in the east by the foot of the Hambleton Hills.