RIPLEY CASTLE

West Riding of Yorkshire

Ripley Castle is mostly a handsome Georgian mansion, but it is built around the shell of a remarkably late Tower house.

This is the ancestral home of the Ingilby family (who are still here today).  The oldest part of the Castle is the detached late 15th century Gatehouse which is not particularly strong.  A towerhouse was built between 1548 and 1555, remarkably late in England, and is also only half defensive containing large windows from the outset.

Still, it is an impressive building and worth a visit.  It is also remarkable for us in that it is the only Castle in which we have encountered what could have been a supernatural happening.  When entering the haunted attic room (which we didn't know was haunted at the time) Roy felt something or someone push him as he stepped down into the room, causing him to stumble.  He insists that this was the case and that there was no one behind him when he turned...of course, it could just have been the beer!

The Castle is open to the public during the summer months, but for guided tours only.

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2001