Bolton Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolton Castle |
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The castle from the south
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| General information | |
| Location | Castle Bolton, Yorkshire, England |
| Coordinates | 54°19′19″N 1°56′53″W / 54.321932°N 1.948106°W |
| Construction started | 1378 |
| Completed | 1399 |
| Client | Richard, Lord Scrope of Bolton |
| Owner | Thomas, Lord Bolton |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Lewyn |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 13 February 1967 |
| Reference no. | 1130885 |
Bolton Castle is a cool 14th-century castle found in Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England. The nearby village of Castle Bolton is even named after it! This castle is super important. It's a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very special historic place. It's also a Scheduled Ancient Monument, protected by the government.
The castle was damaged during the English Civil War a long time ago. After the war, parts of it were deliberately broken down so it couldn't be used as a fort again. But don't worry, much of it still stands! What's really amazing is that Bolton Castle has never been sold. It's still owned by the same family, the descendants of the original builders, the Scrope family.
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Building Bolton Castle
Bolton Castle was built between 1378 and 1399. It was made for Richard, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton. The castle is a great example of a quadrangular castle. This means it has four sides, usually with towers at each corner.
Richard Scrope got permission to build it in July 1379. He hired a skilled builder named John Lewyn in September 1378. People say it cost a huge amount of money to build – about 18,000 Marks! That was a fortune back then.
A writer from the 1500s, John Leland, wrote about the castle. He mentioned a special "Astronomical Clock" in the courtyard. He also described how smoke from the hall's fireplace was carried away through hidden tunnels. Another person, Sir Francis Knollys, said Bolton Castle had "The highest walls of any house he had seen."
In 1536, John, 8th Baron Scrope, who owned the castle then, supported a rebellion. This rebellion was called the Pilgrimage of Grace. It was against the changes King Henry VIII was making to the church. John Scrope even gave a safe place to a leader of the rebellion, Abbot Adam Sedbar, inside the castle.
Because of this, John Scrope had to run away to Skipton Castle. The King's men chased him! Sadly, Abbot Sedbar was caught and executed. As punishment, King Henry VIII ordered Bolton Castle to be burned. This caused a lot of damage. But within a few years, some repairs were made. Sir John even got his place back in Parliament.
Mary, Queen of Scots, at Bolton Castle
One of the most famous stories about Bolton Castle is that Mary, Queen of Scots, was held prisoner there for six months. She was a queen who had lost her throne in Scotland. After a battle in 1568, she fled to England. But this made the English Queen, Queen Elizabeth I, nervous. Queen Elizabeth was Protestant, and Mary was Catholic. Mary was seen as a threat to Elizabeth's rule.
Mary was first kept at Carlisle Castle. But it wasn't suitable, so in July 1568, she was moved to Bolton Castle. Her main guard was Sir Francis Knollys. He described the castle as "very strong, very fair, and very stately." He also noted it had "but one entrance thereinto," which made it secure.
Mary stayed in Henry Scrope's own rooms in the South-West tower. She had a large group of people with her, including knights, servants, and ladies-in-waiting. However, only 36 of them could stay inside the castle. The rest found places to stay nearby. Her group included cooks, a hairdresser, a doctor, and more!
Bolton Castle wasn't quite ready for a queen. So, tapestries, rugs, and furniture were borrowed from local houses. Even Queen Elizabeth I herself loaned some items, like pewter dishes and a copper kettle.
Mary's guards let her explore the lands around the castle. She often went hunting, which was a popular activity for nobles. Her favorite thing to do at the castle was getting her hair done by her friend, Mary Seton. Sir Francis Knollys, whom Mary playfully called 'Schoolmaster,' taught her English. She only spoke French, Latin, and Scots before this. She even wrote him a letter in English, saying she had "never used it afore."
Mary also met with local Catholics, which was a big no-no for her guards. Knollys and Scrope got into serious trouble for letting this happen. In January 1569, Mary left Bolton Castle for the last time. She was taken to Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire. She spent most of the next 18 years there before she was executed in 1587.
Later History of the Castle
After 1630, Bolton Castle was inherited by Mary, one of the daughters of Emanuel Scrope. She married Charles Powlett.
Today, the castle is owned by their descendant, Thomas Peter Algar Orde-Powlett, who is the 9th Baron Bolton. He inherited it in June 2023.
Bolton Castle is now a popular place for visitors! You can explore the castle and its beautiful gardens. There's a fun maze, a herb garden, a wild flower meadow, and even a rose garden and a vineyard. Sometimes, they even have amazing falconry displays where you can see birds of prey in action.
While part of the castle is still a ruin, another section has been carefully restored. It's also rented out for special events like weddings.
Bolton Castle in Movies and TV
Bolton Castle has been used as a filming location for many movies and TV shows! Its historic look makes it perfect for period dramas.
Some of the films shot here include:
- Ivanhoe (1952)
- Elizabeth (1998)
It has also appeared in popular TV series like:
- Heartbeat
- All Creatures Great and Small (this is where James proposes to Helen!)
A movie about William Shakespeare called "Bill" was also filmed at Bolton Castle. This film was made by the same team behind the super popular children's TV series Horrible Histories!
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Bolton para niños
