Ovington, Yorkshire

Ovington
Yorkshire North Riding
Ovington
Location
Grid reference:	NZ131146
Location:	54°31’39"N, 1°47’54"W
Data
Population:	217  (2011)
Post town:	Richmond
Postcode:	DL11 7
Local Government
Council:	Durham

Ovington is a hamlet on the south bank of the River Tees in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It is nicknamed 'The Maypole Village' for its prominent, permanent maypole on the village green.

The village pub is The Four Alls, which has stood since at least the 1880s. It is named from the saying about classes in society:

The Monarch - 'I reign over all'

A Bishop - 'I pray for all'

A Soldier - 'I fight for all'

A Farmer - 'I pay for all'

Maypole

Standing in the village is the famous Ovington Maypole, 60 feet tall. A maypole was first erected here by George Kidson MM, a resident of the village who lived there for 83 years. All the daffodils that spring every year are also thanks to George Kidson who planted all them around the small village.

At the opening of the twenty-first century, the maypole was replaced with a new maypole donated by Wycliffe Hall. The new maypole stands tall in the centre of the green and two large sections of the former maypole have been made into benches on either side of the green.

The replacement maypole was however snapped off at ground level by storm force winds on Monday 9 November 2015. A new maypole erected on 26 September 2016, of timber imported from Finland, supported by many local donations.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about County Durham Ovington, Yorkshire)

• The Four Alls, Ovington