Middleham Castle was built at the end of the 1100s and is famous for being the childhood home of King Richard III. Before the stone castle was built, it as the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle. In the 1200s, the castle was owned by the Neville family, a family who were instrumental in the War of the Roses. After Richard III was killed in battle, the castle became the property of Henry VII. It was later used as a manor house but was quickly abaonded, and the stone was used for other buildings in the town. I visited the castle at the end of July, and all of the castle was accessible except for the top of the tower, where you can see a view. This is closed due to coronavirus.
A statue of Richard III has been commissioned to guard the ruins of his childhood home, Middleham Castle.
The castle is moated, although the moat is now dry.
English Heritage maintains the site and visitors to it. There is a small shop on site and information about the castle can be obtained through guide books or the manager. Inside the shop is also a small exhibition for the Middleham Jewel. There is a replica of the jewel to see here.
The Great Hall is a two-storey building.
On the far side is a kitchen that serviced the Great Hall.
The buildings at the back of the castle would have been workshops, store rooms, or kitchens probably. On the ground of these buildings were semi-circular and circular patterns. The manager of the site explained that there was a brewhouse and mill here, possibly dating from the late middle ages and after the castle was abandoned.
The ruins are in pretty good condition with the walls primarily standing, so visitors can envision what it would have been like.
Below is the replica of the Middleham Jewel, which may have held religious relics and a bit of cloth. The gemstone is a sapphire. The jewel was discovered in a field and it may have served a purpose to prevent sickness.
Not far from Middleham Castle, down the road, is Brymor Ice Cream. It is a local ice cream company created in the 1980s; the cream used for the ice cream is from the milk of Gurnsey cattle. There are over 25 different flavours. I had the cinder toffee and brownie swirl. This was two scoops, and the portions are more than generous. I had a stick of fudge and chocolate syrup. I did not realise that the portions would be so generous! But, this is very good ice cream, so if you do visit the castle, make sure you stop here on the way to (or from).
I plan to re-visit Middleham Castle in order to finish the tour and check out the view from the top. It really is a nice castle with a wealth of history.
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