Driving through Snainton today, a visitor would probably not give it a second glance, but Snainton like all villages has a unique history. Its land changed hands many times over the centuries and few parishes can boast of having a Knights Templars Hall within their boundaries.

At the end of the ice age, melt water formed a vast body of water, which has become known as Lake Pickering. Constant erosion transformed the lake, making the vale into sodden level marshes, known as carrs in later centuries, which provided Snainton with the fertile farming land it has today.

The Romans established a large settlement at Malton and roman coins were found at the west of Snainton, which may suggest a settlement or trading with the Romans. Some Anglo Saxon finds were discovered off Station Road when the Orchard Estate was built which again suggests a settlement in the area in about the 6th and 7th centuries. However the name of Snainton comes from the time of the Viking invasions and is believed to originate from a farmstead associated with a man called Snoc. In 1086 Snainton was recorded as Sechintune.

The Norman Conquest brought wholesale destruction in the middle of the 11th century. The land was not worked for 9 years and most of the inhabitants were killed either by the sword or died of famine and disease. The entire north of England became king′s land and over the next few centuries, manors were awarded to the king′s knights as a reward for military service. William de Percy′s manor house is believed to have been at the end of West Lane. Another manor, with its moated manor house, was located where Carr House is now situated. During this period the knight′s Templars were established in about 1189 when Roger Bigod granted lands at Foulbridge to the Templars. The Knights Templars′ Hall, which can still be seen at Foulbridge, was completed on 1290.

After the Civil War in 1642 and the restoration of the monarchy, landowners became more involved in the management of land in response to demands to produce greater quantities of food and more intensive farming methods were required. This eventually led to the enclosure awards in the later part of the 18th century. The Snainton enclosure award was granted in 1768 and some 4062 acres were distributed among those with a claim or rights to any land. The stone walls and many of the farm buildings around Snainton today are a legacy of that time.

In 1740 came the turnpike act, which was a means to collect money for the repair of roads. A toll bar was erected at Snainton and the Coachman Inn, at that time known as the New Inn, became a post inn. The road through Yedingham was the main road to York whereas the road to Pickering was no more than a dirt track. Specialised trades developed where previously every household tended to be self-sufficient. For example, by 1823 the establishment of various trades in Snainton were as follows ‾ 3 shoemakers, 3 shopkeepers, 3 tailors, 2 wheelwrights, 2 bakers, 4 butchers, a saddler, a blacksmith and a cooper. The traditional farming community continued with 16 farmers listed at that time.

Snainton traded through the busy inland port at Malton where barges transported produce to and from the West Riding. The river Derwent needed to be kept clear of silt and debris and free flowing which also helped to reduce the flooding of the surrounding area. Sir George Cayley initiated a drainage scheme, which consisted of straightening the rivers Derwent, and Hertford and forming a series of drainage ditches crisscrossing the vale and draining into the river Derwent. The sea cut at Scalby was also constructed which greatly reduced flooding of the Derwent. The work was carried out by the Muston and Yedingham Drainage Company and by 1807; 10,886 acres of farmland had been improved at a cost of £41,932. The importance of this achievement should not be underestimated, without this work; Snainton south of the main road would still be marshy wetland. As a result of these improvements, Snainton became renowned for its market gardens and the growing of fruit, providing vegetables, fruit and cut flowers for the local shops and markets.

The first church in Snainton was built about 1150 as a chapel of ease of Brompton, this was demolished and the present church, once St Mary′s but now St Stephen′s, built in 1835. John Wesley preached at Snainton in 1764 at what is now Box Cottage, on the High Street. The present Methodist Church on the corner of West Lane was built in 1894 and the Primitive Methodist Church, now Stockill′s workshop in Station Road, was built in 1868.

The railway came to Snainton in 1882, the first train running through Snainton station on 1st May of that year. The railway, which ran from Seamer to Pickering was short-lived and closed in 1950. The station house, once a garage and now private dwellings, stands at the bottom of Station Road.

Believed to date from the early 1700′s, Snainton′s pinfold, which stands on the high street was owned by the Duchy of Lancaster but was given to the village in 1990. A pinfold could be found in most villages at the time of the mediaeval open field system and it was not until enclosures became common that livestock was kept under control.

Snainton′s enclosure began in 1768 and until enclosure was complete, livestock roamed the Commons and milk cows moved to and from fields every day to village cottages or farms. Inevitably, cattle and sheep occasionally escaped and were, if not claimed, fastened into the Pinfold. The animals could later be re-claimed by their owner on payment of a small fine or, if abandoned or unclaimed they were sold off. All proceeds went to the benefit of the Parish.

The role of village Pinder could often be hazardous. Owners of impounded animals might attempt to rescue them to avoid being fined, especially if they could be rescued before being impounded in the pinfold itself. Once there they were considered to be in legal custody and penalties for "breaking the pound" could be heavy. A villager with their most precious possession impounded and no money to pay for its release faced terrible hardship and poverty.

On the pinfold sits Snainton′s millennium sundial. This sundial is unique to our village and was commissioned by the Parish Council using money from an anonymous bequest. The sundial, transcribed with the motto "let the hour be favourable" was inaugurated on 24th March 2001.

Sited on Nettledale Lane is the village gaol, also known as the lock-up. It dates from the 17th century and was used to detain drunks and minor lawbreakers seized by the parish constable until they had cooled off, or while waiting escort to the local court.

The Reading Room was built in 1861 by Mr Leaf and was used by local gentlemen to read the papers. It was also the site of the original village school. All ages of children attended together and were taught in two rooms, the present kitchen being one of them. ′s class alone contained 65 children. In 1892 the children moved out of the Reading Room and entered their present school. A parish council was formed at a meeting on 4th December 1894 when the first chairman elected was Mr D Davis along with 5 parish councillors, with the first meeting being held on 31st December 1894 in the Reading Room where the council still meets today.