WRESSLE CASTLE

East Riding of Yorkshire

Just about the only medieval Castle masonry in the East Riding (York is strictly speaking not in any of the Ridings) Wressle Castle is one small part of a much larger quadrangular building.

It was begun around 1380 by Sir Thomas Percy, brother of the Earl of Northumberland (see Alnwick Castle, Northumbria amongst others).  He became a great favourite of Richard II but lost his head for siding with his brother at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403.  The Castle was later restored to the Percys, who had a tremendous knack of getting back into favour, and became a rather handsome quadrangular Castle; not unlike Castle Bolton.

During the Civil War it was garrisoned by Parliament, who decided as a precaution to destroy most of the Castle in 1648 leaving only one of the four ranges and two of the corner towers. These remained occupied until 1796 when a fire gutted the interior.  A small part of the Gatehouse also remains.

The Castle stands on farm land and permission, plus a small charitable donation, needs to be obtained from the farmhouse.

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2001