MIDDLEHAM CASTLES

North Riding of Yorkshire

The first Castle stands on the higher ground near to the stone Castle and is a motte and bailey raised initially by Alan 'the Red' (see Richmond Castle).  Around 1170 the gloriously named Ribald FitzRanulf moved down the hill and built the keep which is the centre of the Castle ruin we see today.

The keep is of an unusually oblong design (see also Bowes Castle).  The all-powerful Neville family became the Castle's owners in 1270 and it was probably Ralph Neville who extended the Castle around the year 1300.  The design of the walls was probably inspired by the concentric Castles of North Wales, but the towers are of a quite different design - not projecting either outwards or upwards to any great degree.  A Gatehouse was added, but little remains of this today.

The curtain was heightened in the 15th century (probably by a later Ralph Neville, the first Earl of Westmorland).  Richard Neville, the famous "Kingmaker" held Edward IV prisoner here in 1469 (see also Warwick Castle).  In 1471 Neville lost his life at the Battle of Barnet and Middleham Castle became the favourite home of Richard, Duke of Gloucester - who later became Richard III.  Unlike most of England (save his native Leicestershire) Richard is considered a hero in these parts; not a villain as history has painted him elsewhere.

After the Battle of Bosworth Field Middleham Castle slipped into history and ruin.

The Castle is owned by English Heritage.

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2019