Over Silton village is located on the edge of the Hambleton Hills, 5 miles to the east of Northallerton.
Hidden in the woods to the north of the village stands a high crag, which was once believed to be the the home of a Hobthrush - a supernatural dwarf-like being. A small cave half way up the crag was called Hobthrush Hall or Hobby's Hall. The cave is marked on the old OS maps as 'Hobbrush Hole', but this is perhaps how the name was recorded from the local accent.
Writing in the mid 1800's, William Grainge noted that ....
"In the precipitous cliffs, a short distance north-west of the village, called 'the Scarrs,' is a cave in the rock, known by the name of Hobthrush Hall, which was formerly the abode of a goblin of somewhat remarkable character, who appears by the stories yet current relating to him, to have been possessed of great agility, as he was in the habit of jumping from the hills above his dwelling to the top of Carlhow Hill, about half amile distant. He was not of the malignant kind. On the contrary he was one of those friendly to man. The Silton goblin was a true and faithful servant to a person named Weighall, who kept the village inn, and rented the land on which his hall was situate. It was Hob's invariable practice to churn the cream during the night, which was prepared for him the evening before, for which his reward was a large slice of bread and butter, always placed ready for him when the family retired to bed, and always gone in the morning. One night, the cream was put into the churn as usual, but no bread and butter placed beside it. Hob was so disgusted with this piece of base ingratitude, that he never came to churn more, and appears to have entirely left the neighbourhood. His dwelling yet remains, a rugged cave among the rocks, dark, wet, and uncomfortable, but extending a considerable distance underground."