Ainderby Quernhow

Image Credit: Chris Heaton

Ainderby Quernhow is a village and civil parish within the Hambleton district. It’s located in North Yorkshire and is part of the North Riding of Yorkshire. It’s a small village with an estimated population of 70 as of 2014. Ainderby Quernhow is 5 miles west of Thirsk and is situated along the B6267 Thirsk to Masham Road which is east of the A1(M).

The Quernhow

Close by to the Roman Road, which once marked the boundary of Ainderby and Middleton Quernhow, is the Quernhow, which is a small mound. This was demolished to make way for the upgrade of the A1(M). To commemorate its history, a stone was laid down in the Quernhow cafe grounds.

Religion in Ainderby Quernhow

Ainderby Quernhow doesn’t have a church within the North Riding village, but there are churches surrounding it. Two of the nearest are St Michael and the Church of St John the Evangelist.

Education in Ainderby Quernhow

There are no schools within Ainderby Quernhow, however, there are several schools close by. These include Alanbrooke Community Primary School, Queen Mary’s School which is a boarding school, and Breckenbrough School, which is a specialist school for supporting its pupils who have learning and behavioural difficulties.

History in Ainderby Quernhow

The name Ainderby Quernhow means ‘village belonging to Eindrithi’. Eindrithi is a Viking name which meant ‘sole-ruler’.

This North Yorkshire village has had several spellings over the years, these being ‘Whernhowe’ and ‘Whernou’. ‘Whern’ is Old Norse for Kvern, meaning mill stone, and ‘How’ is Old Norse for Haugr, meaning hill. Together the name would have meant mill stone hill.