342:
392:. The building has repeatedly been vandalised and is suffering the effects of the weather. The site is within the boundaries of the North York Moors National Park, and the National Park Authority, English Heritage and the site owner have collaborated to develop a plan to conserve the site. A report produced for the park authority in 2005 examined several options, including retaining the building as ruins but improving security by employing a custodian, converting the gatehouse into a liveable property for use as a house or holiday home, or establishing a local community group to help manage and maintain the site.
315:
occupied the entire top floor. The remains of fireplaces are still visible on the ground and first floors. A vice or spiral staircase enclosed by a tower projecting out from the northwest wall gave access to the upper floors. It could not be accessed from within the ground floor of the gatehouse but was accessed from a round-headed doorway set into the north-west wall. The staircase can still be followed up to the remnants of the first floor, though the actual flooring is no longer present. On the outside of the gatehouse's north-west wall, the roofline of a now-vanished building can still be seen.
252:. At some point in the late 16th or early 17th century, a house was built by the Lennox family adjoining the northwest end of the gatehouse. The house was sketched in 1725 by Samuel Buck and is depicted as a large two-storied building with gabled dormer windows set into a steeply pitched roof. No trace of the house's structure now remains, though its roofline is still visible on the north side of the gatehouse. The castle eventually returned to the possession of the Crown, but fell into disrepair, and by 1600 the building was described as "old and ruinous".
330:
372:
in two rectangular enclosures a short way to the east of the bailey. Each was some 40 metres (130 ft) by 20 metres (66 ft) and was surrounded by earthen banks about 1 metre (3.3 ft) high. To the east of the gardens was an extended rectangular pond 190 metres (620 ft) long, 20 metres (66 ft) wide and up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep. It has been suggested that it might have been a fish pond, but its size makes this possibility an uncertain one. A deer park was laid out to the south of the castle where, it is said,
44:
354:
217:
substantial changes to the castle and levelled the motte to provide a base for a new keep with a fortified gatehouse, built a short distance to the east. It is not clear whether there was a curtain wall – there is no evidence of one on the ground – but the castle would have been extremely hard to defend without one. The lack of evidence of a curtain wall may simply be the result of centuries of stone-robbing. Whorlton Castle remained in the hands of the Darcys until 1418, when the death of
307:
the arms of Darcy (centre) flanked by
Meynell (right) and Gray (left), the latter reflecting the marriage of Philip Darcy to Elizabeth Gray in the late 14th century. Above the shields is a further single shield that shows the arms of Darcy and Meynell impaled, reflecting the original marriage that united the families and brought the castle into the hands of the Darcys. The entrances would originally have been blocked by
168:
1041:
367:
The castle's keep was located approximately 22 metres (72 ft) further west at the other end of the bailey. The only elements of it now remaining are fragments of vaulted cellars or undercrofts, the largest of which measures some 9 metres (30 ft) by 4 metres (13 ft). They are thought to
371:
A large area of the surrounding landscape is also associated with the castle. Much of the land was cultivated during the Middle Ages and traces of ploughing are still visible. The area immediately adjoining the castle was landscaped during the late medieval period, when ornamental gardens were built
314:
After passing through the entrances, visitors would have crossed through a vaulted central passage, some elements of which can still be seen. On either side were a number of large rooms with smaller mural chambers (small rooms set within the walls) – probably guardrooms – and a great hall would have
306:
Two large segment-arched entrances are present on either side of the gatehouse, flanked by cross-windows. Each entrance is approximately 3 m (9.8 ft) wide by 3.3 m (11 ft) high. Above the east (main) entrance is a row of three carved shields in cusped panels. The shields present
395:
The option of converting the gatehouse was recommended. The report concluded that "retention of the status quo is not felt to be an acceptable option, due to continuing damage through vandalism to the historic fabric and archaeology, together with the impaired public enjoyment and the uneconomic
212:
It is unclear when exactly the castle was built, but in its first phase, it would have consisted of a wooden fortress on a roughly square motte measuring some 60 metres (200 ft) by 50 metres (160 ft). The motte was surrounded by a dry ditch up to 20 metres (66 ft) wide by 5 metres
302:
and built on a rectangular plan with a length and breadth of 17.68 m (58.0 ft) by 10 m (33 ft). The height of the surviving walls varies between 8.5 m (28 ft) to about 6 m (20 ft) The walls vary in thickness between 2.3 m (7.5 ft) to 1.73 m
396:
nature of future repairs and maintenance to the site." English
Heritage part-funded a feasibility study to assess the prospects of turning the gatehouse into a home. However, these plans fell through due to the collapse into administration of the Vivat Trust, which had proposed the conversion.
216:
The castle fell into disrepair or was dismantled during the first part of the 14th century; an account of 1343 describes it as being a ruin. In the mid-14th century, it passed by marriage to John Darcy, Lord Darcy of Knayth, who had close associations with the royal court. Darcy carried out
368:
be of Norman origin and as such may represent the oldest extant remains on the site. In the mid-19th century a local farmer reportedly used the castle cellars as pig sties. The cellars were overgrown but are now much tidier and are easily accessible (but via small doors and steps).
151:, the castle fell into ruin as early as the mid-14th century. The site nonetheless continued to be inhabited until at least the early 17th century. Little now remains of the castle itself, other than the remnants of some cellars or undercrofts. The ruined shell of a 14th-century
248:, in the autumn of 1561, possibly from Whorlton Castle, to propose a marriage between Mary and her son Darnley. Although local tradition claims that the castle was where their marriage contract was signed in 1565, this is erroneous; the contract was actually signed at
213:(16 ft) deep, with an outer bank standing up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high. Most of the ditch is still present, but its southeast quadrant has been obliterated by a modern road. It would have adjoined a fortified enclosure that included the village and church.
275:
made at this time. The Bruce family retained the castle and manor until the late 19th century, when they were sold to James
Emerson of Easby Hall. In 1875, a large quantity of the castle's stonework was removed to build Swainby's village church.
1000:
History and
Topography of the City of York: and the North Riding of Yorkshire: embracing a general review of the early history of Great Britain, and a general history and description of the County of York, Volume
341:
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283:, in the mid-20th century as part of a shooting estate. It acquired listed status in 1928, and is a Grade I listed site. The gatehouse received structural repairs from the
295:
The mid-14th century gatehouse is the main surviving relic of
Whorlton Castle. It is now a roofless and floorless shell, three storeys high, constructed from
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353:
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made of wood or metal that could be raised or lowered by winches set into the gatehouse walls. The grooves for the portcullises are still visible today.
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once hunted. The landscape and the site of the deserted village of
Whorlton are included with the castle as part of a scheduled ancient monument.
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associated with the nearby settlement. The castle is an unusual example of a motte-and-bailey that remained in use throughout the
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225:. The Strangeways held on to the castle, until a dispute between heirs in 1541 led to it becoming a possession of the Crown.
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The castle was established in the early 12th century at the edge of Castle Bank, a ridge between the villages of
122:
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259:(later Lord Bruce of Kinloss), in 1603, and the title of Lord Bruce of Whorlton was bestowed on his second son,
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in 1664. By the early 19th century, the ruins of the castle's keep had largely disappeared, as depicted in a
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runs. In the 13th century, it was referred to variously as
Hwernelton or Potto Castle (the village of
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221:, resulted in Whorlton being inherited by his daughter, Elizabeth Darcy, who was married to Sir
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Roberts, David (7 March 2005). "Plan offers hope for future of badly vandalised castle".
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East entrance to the gatehouse, displaying the shields of the Darcys, Meynells and Grays.
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209:. It subsequently passed to the de Meynell family, who founded the castle.
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in the 1960s, but has otherwise largely been left open to the elements.
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303:(5.7 ft). None of the interior walls or floors have survived.
121:
is a ruined medieval castle situated near the abandoned village of
166:
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The castle gatehouse is in poor condition and has been added to
1011:
279:
The castle is currently privately owned, having been bought by
147:
Built to overlook an important road on the western edge of the
874:"The 704 Yorkshire historic landmarks in dire need of repair"
129:, England. It was established in the early 12th century as a
183:, overlooking a small valley through which the road between
904:
The Civil Wars
Experienced: Britain and Ireland, 1638–1661
159:
and is privately owned but can be visited by the public.
155:
still survives, albeit in fairly poor condition. It is a
726:"Heritage at Risk Register – Whorlton Castle Gatehouse"
359:
Fragmentary remnant of
Whorlton Castle's main building
1057:
981:
The Castle on the Hill: Memories of
Whorlton Castle
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103:
90:
53:
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923:The Ancient Saxon Parish of Whorlton in Cleveland
195:is part of the same parish). At the time of the
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983:. Stockton-on-Tees: Black Tent Publications.
255:Whorlton Castle and manor were then given to
8:
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335:Interior of the gatehouse at Whorlton Castle
1270:Grade I listed buildings in North Yorkshire
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291:Description of buildings and surroundings
697:"Castle may be turned into holiday home"
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201:, Whorlton was recorded as belonging to
171:Plan of the gatehouse of Whorlton Castle
16:Castle ruins in North Yorkshire, England
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232:later granted the castle and estate to
219:Philip Darcy, 6th Baron Darcy de Knayth
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757:"Whorlton Castle Gatehouse (1151332)"
538:Research records (formerly PastScape)
438:
436:
434:
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7:
964:. Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer.
962:English Castles: A Guide by Counties
952:Handbook for Travellers in Yorkshire
406:Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
242:Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox
925:. Middlesbrough: Jordison & Co.
234:Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
932:Bernard Ingham's Yorkshire castles
762:National Heritage List for England
453:National Heritage List for England
281:Osbert Peake, 1st Viscount Ingleby
14:
1039:
695:Jeffels, David (16 March 2005).
352:
340:
328:
42:
872:Barnet, Ben (20 October 2015).
623:Wilkinson, Paul (28 May 2005).
261:Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin
257:Edward Bruce, 1st Lord Kinloss
125:(at grid reference NZ4802) in
1:
921:Fowler, John Clement (1904).
448:"Whorlton Castle (1007641)"
1286:
1260:Castles in North Yorkshire
534:"Whorlton Castle (26817)"
411:List of castles in England
238:Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
1235:
960:Pettifer, Adrian (2002).
390:Heritage at Risk Register
263:, in 1641. Thomas's son,
41:
31:Whorlton, North Yorkshire
28:
1265:Ruins in North Yorkshire
979:Skipper, Lesley (2009).
930:Ingham, Bernard (2001).
902:Bennett, Martyn (2000).
631:. London. Archived from
320:Ruins of Whorlton Castle
203:Robert, Count of Mortain
1003:. Beverley: John Green.
236:, whose eldest son was
955:. London: John Murray.
205:, the half-brother of
172:
949:Murray, John (1867).
934:. Skipton: Dalesman.
906:. London: Routledge.
230:Henry VIII of England
207:William the Conqueror
170:
998:Whellan, T. (1859).
701:Gazette & Herald
246:Mary, Queen of Scots
75:54.41528°N 1.26000°W
629:The Daily Telegraph
267:, became the first
142:early modern period
71: /
1241:Castles in England
1077:Burton in Lonsdale
878:The Yorkshire Post
728:. English Heritage
635:on 19 January 2010
625:"Castle for keeps"
380:Conservation plans
173:
112:early 12th century
80:54.41528; -1.26000
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990:978-1-907212-00-0
971:978-0-85115-782-5
941:978-1-85568-193-4
913:978-0-415-15901-2
851:The Northern Echo
285:Ministry of Works
269:Earl of Ailesbury
223:James Strangeways
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813:Skipper 2009
808:
803:, p. 23
801:Skipper 2009
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786:Skipper 2009
766:. Retrieved
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705:. Retrieved
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685:, p. 30
683:Skipper 2009
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666:Skipper 2009
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633:the original
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604:Skipper 2009
587:, p. 15
585:Skipper 2009
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573:Skipper 2009
560:, p. 17
558:Skipper 2009
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541:. Retrieved
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506:, p. 78
476:, p. 26
474:Bennett 2000
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309:portcullises
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265:Robert Bruce
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104:Site history
18:
1167:Scarborough
1157:Ravensworth
825:Murray 1867
656:, p. 6
654:Fowler 1904
504:Ingham 2001
244:, wrote to
138:Middle Ages
78: /
54:Coordinates
1254:Categories
896:References
273:lithograph
63:54°24′55″N
1238:Also See:
1207:Topcliffe
1197:Spofforth
1152:Pickering
1137:Middleham
1102:Gatherley
883:9 October
859:329078832
703:. Ryedale
374:Edward II
297:sandstone
189:Stokesley
153:gatehouse
66:1°15′36″W
48:Gatehouse
1217:Whorlton
1162:Richmond
1142:Mulgrave
1112:Helmsley
855:ProQuest
768:6 August
732:7 August
707:7 August
639:7 August
543:6 August
459:6 August
400:See also
123:Whorlton
95:Medieval
1182:Skipton
1177:Skelton
1107:Gilling
1047:England
181:Swainby
163:History
35:England
1222:Wilton
1212:Upsall
1202:Thirsk
1132:Malton
1122:Kilton
1117:Hornby
1092:Crayke
1087:Cawood
1072:Bolton
1044:
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857:
300:ashlar
185:Thirsk
177:Faceby
131:Norman
98:castle
1187:Snape
1067:Ayton
417:Notes
228:King
193:Potto
109:Built
1227:York
985:ISBN
966:ISBN
936:ISBN
908:ISBN
885:2016
770:2011
734:2011
709:2011
641:2011
545:2011
461:2011
187:and
179:and
91:Type
388:'s
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