Helmsley Castle

In the years following the Norman Conquest in 1066, castles were built across the country as symbols of power to subjugate the local populace. Permission to build these fortifications was granted to King William’s most loyal and trusted knights, who controlled the far-flung regions of his newly-won kingdom in his stead.

One of these was Robert, Count of Mortain, William’s half-brother, who fought at the Battle of Hastings and was granted an estate in Helmsley in modern-day North Yorkshire. There is no evidence that he ever built a castle there during his lifetime.

Time to build

The first construction was around 1120 by Walter l’Espec, which was built of wood in the traditional motte and bailey style. From its position, it controlled the approaches along the River Rye and by the time of his death in 1154, the site included a double ditch defence surrounding an inner bailey.

By 1186, Walter’s nephew, Everard de Ros, began to reconstruct the castle in stone. By the time he died in 1227, the castle had been completely rebuilt in stone and transformed in design to keep pace with military developments of the day, which included two great towers, round corner towers, stout linear curtain walls and a reinforced gatehouse. Indeed, so perfect were these defences that for the next 30 years Everard’s son, William did not do anything apart from adding a chapel. Between 1258 and 1285, William’s son, Robert changed the castle’s defences by adding a barbican to the south side and by strengthening the walls.

Over the following 193 years, the castle changed hands several times before once more reverting to the de Ros family in 1485.

From this point on the castle enjoyed almost two centuries of peaceful existence and was transformed into a comfortable residence where nobility, royalty and men of influence were received. However, all that would change with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642.

The Civil War

In September 1644, Helmsley castle was being held for the king by Sir Jordan Crossland when it was besieged by a Parliamentarian force of 700 foot and 300 cavalry commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax. Attempts by Royalist forces to break the siege failed and in November, after three months, the garrison surrendered. It had not been easy and on the subject of his campaign in Yorkshire, which included the siege of Helmsley Castle, Fairfax wrote: ‘The small forces I have are employed at several places in this county’. He continued that his troops at the castle were: ‘rather to restrain their incursions upon the country than any hopes I have to take them’. On its capture, Fairfax ordered Helmsley Castle to be slighted to prevent it from being further used by the Royalist army. Only the Tudor manor house escaped the destruction.

More than another 250 years of mixed fortunes lay ahead of the castle and by the late 19th century it had become a romantic Victorian attraction, being visited by artists such as Turner, who came to draw and paint its dramatic ruins.

Today, after 900 years of history, the castle is owned by Lord Feversham of Duncombe Park, but it is under the care of English Heritage, which is responsible for its maintenance. It is open to the public to visit and it still retains all the dramatic elegance, even after all these centuries.

The location

On approaching the site, the first thing that strikes visitors is the impressive strength built into the structure, which becomes obvious from the surviving walls to the great towers. The gardens have been preserved and the Tudor manor has also survived, plus several scenic walks have been created to allow visitors to wander around the estate. However, it is the military defences and the 900 years of history that really grab the attention. The labour force would have been incredible to see at work from carpenters to stonemasons and those unskilled who dug the foundations.

Wooden walkways spanning the destroyed parts of the walls have been created so visitors can look down into the dry ditch surrounding the castle. Reading the information panels and looking across the site, one can understand the day-to-day running of the castle, as meals were prepared and tasks were completed. It has been used as a location for several film projects and documentaries, plus special events are sometimes hosted on site.

Nearby modern developments have encroached to impede the view towards the River Rye, which would have once been enjoyed at the site and given the castle its strategic importance. But it is not difficult to imagine what it would have looked like and gives visitors an understanding of why it was built in its location. A detailed model of the castle helps with this interpretation and the periods of development. A permanent exhibition covering the siege includes some impressive artefacts, such as the size of cannon balls fired by the Parliamentarian artillery. Looking at the size of the projectiles, the fact the castle withstood bombardment says much about the strength of the walls. The facts related in the exhibition are fascinating and give an insight into the military tactics of the day.

What else?

For those visitors with an interest in art featuring military themes, there is a display of large, armed, bronze figures, including shield and spear and an archer with a longbow. They depict military weapons and armour of the Medieval period which would have been seen at any of the castles during the period. These are meant as general representations because records prove there was no serious military activity at the site during this time.

The history of the castle does not end suddenly. Visitors looking at the earthworks banked up at the site will naturally believe these are centuries old, but some of them hold a secret. Whilst most are, indeed, very old, some are the result of more recent activity. During WWII, anti-tank defences were created at the site and these are the result.

It is very much worthwhile going to visit the remains of this quietly brooding and absorbing fortress to investigate the development of defence techniques over the centuries. Further details of the site and opening times can be found by following the links to Helmsley Castle at www.english-heritage.org.uk