| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 54.0775°N -0.9342°W |
| Official Name: | Foston |
| Static Image Name: | Foston, North Yorkshire.jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | Looking north-east to Foston |
| Population: | 263 |
| Civil Parish: | Foston |
| Unitary England: | North Yorkshire |
| Lieutenancy England: | North Yorkshire |
| Region: | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Constituency Westminster: | Thirsk and Malton |
| Post Town: | YORK |
| Postcode District: | YO60 |
| Postcode Area: | YO |
| Os Grid Reference: | SE698651 |
| London Distance Mi: | 180 |
| London Direction: | SSE |
Foston is a small village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The population of the civil parish as of the 2011 census was 263. Details are included in the civil parish of Whitwell-on-the-Hill. It is situated close to the A64 road and is approximately 9miles north-east from York.
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Fostun" in the Bulford hundred. At the time it was the possession of Earl Morcar, but had passed to Count Alan of Brittany by 1086. It was also recorded that there was a church here. The etymology of the name is from Old Scandinavian meaning "Fotr's settlement".[1]
The village lies within the Thirsk and Malton UK Parliament constituency. It also lies within the Sheriff Hutton & Derwent electoral division of North Yorkshire Council.[2]
Between 1974 until 2023 the village was part of the Ryedale district.
According to the 1881 UK Census the population was 99.[3] Local council estimates the current population as 50.[4] The nearest settlements are Thornton-le-Clay to the west; Bulmer, North Yorkshire to the north; Whitwell-on-the-Hill to the east and Barton Hill, North Yorkshire to the south-east. To the east of the village is Spittal Beck, a tributary of the River Derwent.[5]
The village is the site of a Scheduled monument, this being a medieval settlement and moated monastic grange.[1] [6] In addition to the church, Foston Rectory is Grade II* listed and Foston Hall is a Grade II listed buildings.[7]
The presence of a church in the village was recorded at the time of the Norman invasion, but the present building, All Saints' Church, Foston, dates from the 12th century with subsequent renovations.[3] It is a Grade II* listed building.
The noted English writer and Anglican cleric, Sydney Smith, was rector of the parish from 1806 until 1829 and resident in the village from 1809.[8]