The name of Kirkby Overblow probably means "the Kirkby of the smelters" in reference to the prevalence of iron smelting in the area. The name Kirkby is derived from Cherchebi meaning the "church village". The village appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Cherchebi, in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1211 as Kirkeby Oreblowere and in the Episcopal Registers of 1242 as Kirkeby Orbelawer.

The presence of springs, occurring frequently where Millstone Grit overlies shale, may have been a prime factor in the settlement of the village. St. Helen's Well, located to the west of St. Helen's Cottage along Swindon Lane, is an ancient holy well dedicated to St. Helen, possibly dating from the fourth century. (Pagan holy wells were often purified and consecrated when Constantine the Great recognised Christianity as the religion of the Empire in 312. Well worship was eventually forbidden by canon law under the reign of King Edgar, 959-75). The presence of St. Helen’s Well may have contributed to the location of the early church.

The church became collegiate prior to 1364 with a provost and four chaplains and the register dates from 1647. The present Church of All Saints, re-constructed in 1780-81, incorporates a possible Saxon blocked north doorway near the west end and a north transept dating from the early C14. The chancel was rebuilt in 1803 by the Rev. Charles Cooper and further restoration work was carried out in 1872 by G E Street.

Photo on the left: View down Barrowby lane west into the village with All Saints Church on the horizon.

Kirkby Overblow is situated 4 miles south-east of Harrogate and 6 miles north-west of Wetherby on a high south-facing ridge overlooking Wharfedale surrounded by farmland.

The church stands 365 feet above sea level and the village is said to be equi-distant between the North and Irish seas on a line drawn from Bridlington Bay to Morecombe Bay. Approaching along Barrowby Lane the buildings of the village, dominated by the church tower, are visible lying along the ridge.

The historic core of Kirkby Overblow is the group of listed buildings comprising All Saints Church, the Old Rectory and Rectory Cottages. The village has developed in a T-shaped form, from the intersection of Main Street, and Barrowby Lane/Swindon Lane. Although Kirkby Overblow is located on a prominent ridge the core of the village itself occupies a relatively flat site. All Saint's Church occupies the highest point and the village falls away along the three main approaches, gradually to the south-east and north and more dramatically to the west.

Expansion of the village has occurred mostly to the south-east along Barrowby Lane, where the newer development comprises 2-storey detached and semi-detached houses and bungalows. Wharfe Mews is a newer row of stone terrace houses within the Conservation Area.

Four detached houses now occupy the site of a former quary on Barrowby Lane as it rises. Built in the 1930's and 1940's the four houses enjoy spectacular views of 20 miles over The Vale of York and as far as The White Horse at Kilburn.

The focal point of the village, dominated by the tower of the church, is the group of historic buildings previously mentioned comprising All Saint's Church, the Old Rectory and Rectory Cottages.