Birkby, North Yorkshire

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Birkby
latitude= 54.4153
longitude= -1.4875
population = 40
shire_district= Hambleton
region= Yorkshire and the Humber

shire_county = North Yorkshire
constituency_westminster= Richmond
post_town= NORTHALLERTON
postcode_district = DL6
postcode_area= DL
dial_code= 01609
os_grid_reference= NZ332023

Birkby is a village and civil parish about 6 miles north of Northallerton in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England.

The village lies very close to the East Coast Main Line, it is possible to see Birkby from the left hand side of a southbound train on the line. The nearest station was Cowton railway station but that has long since closed, the nearest station is now Northallerton

Birkby lies on a minor road that runs between East Cowton and the A167. St Peter's church in Birkby dates from 1776. During some 19th century renovation work the bases of two Norman columns were discovered under the floor of the chancel and others were found under the nave. They had evidently formed part of a much earlier and more beautiful building than the one that now occupies the site. Part of the shaft of a Saxon cross was also unearthed, and is now built into the wall of the west end.

Adjacent to the church is an impressive rectory, as the road passes the rectory grounds it is overhung by a number of horse chestnut trees.

There are the foundations of an older settlement opposite the rectory near Hill Top Farm.

It is thought that the name Birkby may be a corruption of Bretby or Bretaby, which means village inhabited by persons of mixed Viking and ancient British blood. Another theory has it that the name derives from the birch or birk trees that grew there.