Middleham Castle - Historic Sites - The White Goddess

Middleham Castle

Middleham Castle, Middleham, Yorkshire

In 1069, after the Norman Conquest, the lands around Middleham were granted to Alan the Red, who was one of William the Conqueror's supporters.  He built a motte and balley castle on a site called Williams Hill which is situated to the southwest of the current castle.

Around 1170-90, Robert Fitzrandolph, 3rd Lord of Middleham and Spennithorne, started construction of the present castle. The massive Norman Keep, one of the largest, contained a great hall, kitchens, cellars, and the living quarters of the lord of Middleham.

In 1270, the castle passed into the hands of the Neville family and during the 13th century the timber palisades were replaced with a stone curtain wall. The original entrance to the castle was via a gatehouse in the East Wall, the present entrance is through the Northern Gatehouse.  The castle remained in the Neville family until 1471, when Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick was killed at the Battle of Barnet.

King Edward IV granted the castle to his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who was later to become Richard III.  Richard's son, Prince Edward was born and died in Middleham Castle. The round tower in the southwest is known as the Princes Tower. After Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, the castle was seized by Henry VII.  In 1604 the castle was granted to Sir Henry Linley by James I.  In 1613, the castle passed to Edward, 2nd Viscount Loftus.

During the Civil War the castle castle was garrisoned twice in 1654 and 1655.  In 1662 it was sold to Edward Wood and remained in the family until 1889. The castle was then bought by Samuel Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Lord of Marsham.  In 1906, the 2nd Lord Marsham inherited the property and made some repairs.

In 1925, the castle was placed in the care of the Office of Works and extensively repaired.  Since 1984 it has been in the care of English Heritage.

The Castle consists of:

Keep
Chapel
Northern gatehouse
Southeast Tower
Ovens and Horse Mill
Princes Tower
Bakehouse and Nursey
Garderobe Tower
Northwest Tower
Auditors Kitchen and Chamber.

Entrance Prices:
English Heritage Members: Free
Adult: £4.60
Child: £2.80
Concession: £4.10

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