ENGLISH Heritage is throwing the spotlight on its free properties this bank holiday, encouraging visitors to discover the delights of some of the region's lesser known historic gems.

They include the remote Roman road at Wheeldale, in the North York Moors, and the 12th Century ruins of Easby Abbey, near Richmond, which has an infirmary where monks were once bled by leeches to promote good health.

Regional director David Fraser said: "There's a whole world of history to be discovered at our free sites, which we care for on behalf of the nation.

"They are rich in tales, and in some cases we are still unravelling their stories. This is one of our busiest weekends of the year for visitors, so it's a perfect opportunity to seek out these lesser know monuments."

English Heritage has sixteen free-to-enter sites in the Yorkshire region, spanning 2,000 years of history. It is estimated they attract 600,000 visitors a year.

Conservation statements are currently being devised for each one, which includes re-visiting historical evidence to unearth new information about their past.

Other free sites are Spofforth Castle, near Harrogate, and Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications, near Darlington - the tribal stronghold of the Brigantes with vast earthworks covering 850 acres.

Also free are Wharram Percy deserted medieval village, near Malton, where the foundations of more than 30 medieval peasant homes can be seen; Wheeldale Roman road, near Goathland, a mile-long stretch of Roman road running across isolated moorland, with hardcore and drainage ditches still intact; Marmion Tower, West Tanfield, near Ripon, a medieval gatehouse, once used to guard a river crossing across the River Ure; and Piercebridge Roman bridge, near Darlington, the remains of a Roman timber bridge over the Tees.

* www.english-heritage.org.uk