It’s a CASTLE but not as we know it, is a statement proved by it’s definition in the Oxford Dictionary. ie. chateau, citadel, donjon, fastness. fortress, keep, mansion, palace, peel, stronghold, tower.

 The one word not used with context to our present use of the word is CAPITAL, as until the Middles Ages (1,000 – 1,500 ad) when most of our castles were built they were the centre of a empire or kingdom.

 Fortified homes or cities were built throughout Europe and the rest of the World for over three thousand years prior to that, although the first serious fortifications in Britain were constructed by the Romans during their 400 year occupation until the fifth Century.

 After the Romans left the Border regions north of Hadrian’s Wall was the centre of  inter family kingdom feuding which was to continue for the next thousand years.

 Until the Romans wood was the main material with which to build a defensive home, after their departure the abandoned stone garrisons etc. were plundered for the ready prepared building bricks.

 Hence the earliest stone bastilles or peel towers are in the northern border regions, followed in the south of england after the Normans invaded in 1066. But still built as the capitol of a region from which to attack and plunder the neighbours and protect the occupants from attack.

Bolton Castle    Leyburn,  Wensleydale

Although Bolton Castle stands prominent and well maintained in the village of Castle Bolton in the Yorkshire Dales, it is an empty shell in which Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here for a year in 1658.

 Built by Sir Richard Scrope, Chancellor to King Richard II in 1379 extending and fortifying what was originally a Manor House.

During the Civil War John Scrope a Royalist was Sieged within for a whole year and starvation forced him to surrender 1647, part of the castle was damaged and later collapsed leaving what remains today.

Bowes Castle    Barnard Castle, Co Durham

Bowes Castle protects the approach to the Stainmore Pass over the Pennine Hills which the Romans recognised and the Lavatrae Fort which fell into disrepair after they left in the 5^th Century. In the 12^th Century the Normans saw the same strategic importance when Alan the Count of Brittany built a castle on the same site.

 His son Earl of Conan  the Little resided in the castle until his death when ownership transferred to the Crown, when Henry II improved the fortification including a keep on the strength of the threat of raiding parties from the Scots to the north.

Further modification were made after a raid in 1173, a century later it began to be neglected with only the remains of King Henry’s large keep still stand protected for all to see by English Heritage.

Barden Tower     Skipton

Barden Tower was originally a hunting lodge for Skipton Tower in the forest of Barden for the Clifford family.

During the War of the Roses the Yorkist’s killed John Cliffords father and he fled to Cumbria hiding as a sheep farmer. Henry VII returned the land to him and preferring the rural countryside he rebuilt the Lodge as his residence. 

After a period of neglect Lady Anne Clifford restored the property in 1658 and passed it on to the Earl of Cork and allowed to decline from the 18^th century.

Clfford’s Tower      York City Centre

Clifford Tower within the York city walls is the only remains of the original York Castle built on raised motte in 1070, with a wooden tower above.

During anti Jewish demonstrations in 1190 it was set alight, killing many Jews taking refuge inside.

The tower was rebuilt in stone only to collapse during a severe gale in 1228, Henry III ordered it to be rebuilt in 1245 with several towers in a perimeter wall.      Open to the public it offers a fine view of York City and it’s Minster.

Helmsley Castle      North York Moors

The original timber fortress was built in the early 12^th century by Walter Espec who died in 1145, when it passed to Peter de Roos whose family resided there till 1688.

Robert de Roos started rebuilding it in stone in 1186 and William de Roos modified and strengthened it in 1285. Three centuries later in 1565 it was converted into a Tudor home for an Edward Manors.

The defences were put to the test in 1644 during the Civil War when the Royalist’s laid siege for three months till the garrison surrendered when food ran out.

Afterwards a lot was demolished and the East Tower was blown down, the Tudor building remained until the 1700’s when it was left to decay when a new home was built nearby at Duncombe Park.

Knaresborough Castle       North Yorkshire

The first record of castle high on a cliff edge overlooking the river Nidd was in 1130. King John used it as a hunting lodge in the 13^th century making major improvements to the defences.

Most of the present ruins were built in the 14^th century by Edward II, who added the Kings Tower before Queen Phillipa wife who received the castle as a present when she married Edward III.

Her son John Gaunt the 1^st Duke of Lancaster inherited it and it has remained part of the Duchy of Lancaster ever since.  John’s son Henry Bolingbroke was exiled by Richard II who confiscated the Estates, John returned and dethroned the Richard holding him prisoner at Knaresborough before his murder in Pontefract Castle.

It was a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War and was surrounded after a six month siege in 1644, when all was demolished except the Kings Tower which was used as a prison.

Middleham Castle    Leyburn, Yorkshire Dales

The original 11^th century castle was abandoned when a new one was built of stone in the 12^th century. It had major renovations in the 15^th century when it was home to many Lords of the time and King Richard III preferred to his many other castles.

Pickering Castle      North Yorkshire Moors

Built by William the Conquer in 1069 while repressing northern hostility to his invasion after the battle of Hastings in 1066. 

Henry II rebuilt the castle in stone in he early 13^th century and further strengthening was done in the 14^th century by Edward II.

It was in disrepair by the 16h century with only the chapel still in use it’s roof intact, the roof was replaced in the 19^th century and still revives today.

Richmond Castle       North Yorkshire Dales

The castle at Richmond built in the 11^th century is perched on a high cliff overlooking the river Swale.

Richmond Castle was never attacked and hence never modified or maintained and was in ruins by the 1700’s although the North York Militia moved in during the 1800’s and remained in military hands during the 1^st and 2^nd World Wars of the 20^th century.

Scarborough Castle    North Yorkshire Coast

Scarborough Castle is located on a headland 300 feet above the sea on three sides and the only 12^th century castle to see action in the 1^st World War.

Built by William le Gros the Count of Aumale by building a wall and tower sealing of the headland.

When Henry II became king he ordered the return of all Royal Property to the Crown, which included the headland and castle. He strengthened the walls and added a large square keep.

King John further added to the fortifications plus a new great hall and royal chambers, after which in 1243 Henry II added a barbican and double drawbridge.

It was sieged by in 1312 when a Kings man Piers Gaveston, took refuge in the castle surrendering after two weeks with a promise of safe passage south.   He was captured during his journey and beheaded by the Earl of Warwick.

 Scarborough was again besieged in1645 by Parliamentarian Army, with the royalists lasting almost six months under artillery fire which severely damaged the keep.

In December 1914 two German battleships came off the headland and bombarded the barracks within the castle walls, this being the only direct fire on British soil during the First World War.

Skipton Castle    North Yorkshire Dales

The location was selected by Robert de Romille at the end of the 11^th century when be built a timber fortress and later rebuilt of stone by the Clifford family in 1310.

Robert Clifford was killed at Bannockburn in 1314, when his son roger completed the work with a wall and gatehouse in a semi circle with cliff down to the Eller Burn to the rear.

The Earl of Cumberland added Tudor living quarters in 1535, it was sieged three times by the Parlimentarians during the Civil War with the royalists surrendering in 1645.

The Royalists took the castle back in 1648 and the defensive wall demolished, Lady Anne Clifford celebrated completion of her renovation of the castle by the planting of a Yew tree in the courtyard in 1659.

Spofforth Castle     Harrogate, North Yorkshire Dales

The shell of the main hall are all that remains of the Norman home of the Percy family, which was fortified by Henry de Percy in 1308.

After which he bought the barony of Alnwick in Northumberland, where built a more substantial castle and relocated the family home.

The remains are 13^th century with a two storey living block erected in the 14^th century followed by extensive renovations in the 15^th century, after which it fell into disrepair.

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