BOWES CASTLE

North Riding of Yorkshire

Bowes Castle, today in County Durham, guards the valley of the River Greta - one of the chief ways across the Pennine Ridge.  The site was already recognised for its defensibility as the Romans built a fortress here which the medieval Castle stands in one corner of.

The Castle was built in stone from the offset by Henry II between 1171 and 1174.  It seems to only ever have consisted of the keep, which is quite unusual - no other buildings have been found on site.  The design is slightly unusual too, in that it is longer than it is tall (see also Middleham Castle).  Very soon after its construction it saw its only real action when William the Lion of Scotland occupied much of northern England whilst Henry II saw off the rebellion by his son, Henry.

A later rebellion in 1322 saw the Castle captured by rebels, but it was already a ruin by then.

The Castle is owned by English Heritage and open during daylight hours.

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2018