Spalding Moor facts for kids

Spalding Moor is a special kind of low-lying wet area, also known as a wetland, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire in England. Imagine a flat, damp landscape that was once much wetter!

What is Spalding Moor?

Spalding Moor is a type of moor, which means it's a wide, open area that can be quite wet and marshy. It's part of a bigger region called the Humberhead Levels. This area was shaped by ancient glaciers, which left behind features like the moraine near Escrick. A moraine is like a big pile of rocks and dirt pushed by a glacier. Spalding Moor sits at the southern edge of the Vale of York, which is a large, flat valley.

Where is Spalding Moor?

This interesting area is found between two important landmarks. To one side, you'll find the River Derwent, and on the other, the town of Market Weighton. It's also located right at the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, which are a series of rolling hills. So, it's nestled between a river, a town, and some hills!

How did Spalding Moor get its name?

The name "Spalding Moor" has a long history! It was first written down in the year 1172 as Spaldinghemore. There are a couple of ideas about where this unique name came from.

The "Spald" River Idea

One idea is that the name comes from an old river called Spalding. This river's name might have come from an Old English word, spald, which meant a "ditch" or a "fenland river." A fenland river is one that flows through a marshy, wet area. The village of Spaldington also got its name from this same word. We don't have records of a river specifically called "Spalding" today, but many experts think it's probably the river we now know as the River Foulness.

The "Spalda" Tribe Idea

Another interesting idea is that the name comes from an ancient tribe called the Spalda. This tribe is mentioned in a very old document from the 7th century called the Tribal Hidage, which listed different tribes and their lands. The Spalda tribe might have given rise to a group of people known as the Spaldingas, which means "dwellers by the Spald." If this is true, then "Spald" could have been the name for any fenland river or rivers in the area. The Spaldingas also gave their name to the town of Spalding in Lincolnshire.

Where is the name used today?

Over many years, people worked hard to drain the wet areas of Spalding Moor so that the land could be used for farming. As the land became drier and more cultivated, the name "Spalding Moor" wasn't used as much in everyday conversation. However, its history lives on in the names of nearby places! For example, the village of Holme-on-Spalding-Moor clearly keeps the name alive. Also, the village of Thornton was sometimes called "Thornton in Spalding Moor" to tell it apart from other places with the same name. Even Barmby Moor, which was officially known as "Barmby on the Moor" until 1935, also refers back to the historic Spalding Moor.