Ayton Castle, North Yorkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ayton Castle |
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| West Ayton, North Yorkshire, England | |
Ayton Castle ruins
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| Coordinates | 54°15′07″N 0°29′08″W / 54.25198°N 0.48553°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruined |
Ayton Castle is an old castle near West Ayton in North Yorkshire, England. It was built in the 14th century and is now mostly in ruins. This castle is a special type of building called a pele tower. It is also a very important historical site, known as a Grade I listed building.
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Where is Ayton Castle?
Ayton Castle is found in a beautiful area of England. It sits on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. The castle was built on high ground, close to the River Derwent. This river was an important crossing point in the past. The castle is also near the A170 road, which connects towns like Thirsk and Scarborough.
The Story of Ayton Castle
A castle or strong house has been on this spot since the 12th century. In the 1200s, the de Aton family lived here. They gave their name to both the castle and the nearby village of West Ayton.
This area often faced attacks from raiders from Scotland. Because of this, a stronger castle was needed. The pele tower you see today was built in the late 1300s. It was built by Ralph Eure of Witton. He came to own the land after marrying Katherine de Aton. She was the daughter of William de Aton, 2nd Baron Aton.
Ayton Castle became known as the "Defender of the Dales." This shows how important it was for protecting the local area. By the late 1600s, the castle was no longer used. It slowly fell into ruin. However, much of the castle's lower parts are still there. This includes a special twin-tunnel vault underground.
In 1967, the ruined castle was officially recognized as a Grade I listed site. This means it is a very important historical building. It is also a rare example of this type of castle in northern England. The castle is not open to visitors, but you can see it from a nearby field.
What Ayton Castle Looked Like
The castle is about 21 meters long and 13.5 meters wide. It was originally three stories tall. Each story was set back a little from the one below it. This gave the castle a unique look. The ruins you see today are made of sandstone. They show the strong walls of the old pele tower.
