Hayton Castle facts for kids
Hayton Castle is a strong, old house located northeast of the village of Hayton in Cumbria, England. It was built to be a safe place, like a small castle, and has a long history.
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Discovering Hayton Castle's History
Hayton Castle started as a tower house, built sometime in the 1300s or 1400s. Over the years, it was made bigger in the 1500s and 1600s, turning it into a comfortable home. The castle has very thick walls and a special arched ceiling in its basement, which shows it was built for protection.
In the 1600s, a part of the important Musgrave family lived here. Today, Hayton Castle is recognized as a very important historical building. It was officially listed as a Grade I building on April 11, 1967. This means it's considered a building of exceptional interest.
Who Lived at Hayton Castle?
Hayton Castle was the center of a small area called a manor. This manor was part of a larger region known as the Allerdale baronetcy. Many families connected to Hayton Castle played big roles in the history of Cumberland.
The land of Hayton was first given to a huntsman named Seliff. His family then took the name "De Hayton." Later, the manor passed to the Mulcaster family through marriage. William de Mulcaster, a member of this family, was a top official in Cumberland between 1298 and 1306. Other Mulcaster family members were also important leaders in the 1300s.
After five generations, the manor passed to Piers Jeffrey Tilliol through marriage. His daughter, Isabella, received Hayton. She married John Colville. Their family line ended in 1479, and the manor then passed to the Musgrave family through marriage.
The Musgrave Family at Hayton Castle
The Musgrave family owned Hayton Castle for about 300 years, across fourteen generations! Nicholas Musgrave (1450–1506) was the first Musgrave to own it. Many important Musgraves followed, including:
- Thomas Musgrave (1483–1532), who was a marshal.
- William Musgrave (1518–1597), who was a Member of Parliament.
- Sir Edward Musgrave, MP (1561–1641).
- Sir Richard Musgrave, 2nd Baronet (1650–1710).
- Sir Richard Musgrave, 3rd Baronet (1675–1711), who was also a Member of Parliament for Cumberland.
Later, the castle passed to Sir Richard Musgrave, 5th Baronet (1724–1755). He changed his name to Hylton. When he died without children, the title went to his brother, Sir William Musgrave, 6th Baronet (1735–1800), who worked for the customs office. After William, his younger brother, Sir Thomas Musgrave, 7th Baronet (1737–1812), a general in the British Army, took over.
Hayton Castle Changes Hands
After Sir Thomas, the main Musgrave family line no longer owned Hayton Manor. It became the property of Mrs. Jolliffe. The Jolliffe family chose not to live at the castle. Instead, they rented it out as a farm.
Many different tenant farmers lived at Hayton Castle over the years. In 1903, David Mitchell bought the property. His family still owns it today. Mitchell came from Scotland and had served in the British Army during the Second Boer War in South Africa.
What Hayton Castle Looks Like Today
It's believed that Hayton Castle became an important building mainly because of the Musgrave family. Today, the building is a large rectangle, about 29 meters long and 16 meters wide. The north end is the best preserved part. Many changes have been made to the south end.
A very interesting feature is a 2-meter thick wall in the middle of the building. This wall is probably a part of the original castle.
Mary, Queen of Scots' Visit?
It is said that Mary, Queen of Scots stayed at Hayton Castle on May 17, 1568. She was supposedly given a miniature painting of herself in a gold ring as a gift. However, some stories also say she spent that same night at Cockermouth.
Inside Hayton Castle
Even though Hayton Castle is now a farmhouse, it still has reminders of its grand past. There are three staircases inside. The main stone staircase has the Musgrave family shield carved into the wall. This shield shows symbols like six rings and a small bird. These symbols represent different branches of the family.
The Musgrave family's crest shows two arms in armor holding a ring. A stone slab also has a Latin message that means "Praise to Thee, O God, the King of Glory." Below this, it says "AD 1609" and another Latin phrase asking God to remember them.
There is also a spiral stone staircase. A stone slab near an old window on the east wall mentions a chapel that once existed. It says: “This chapel was repaired at the proper cost of Ann Musgrave, third daughter of Sir Richard Musgrave, Baronet, and Dame Dorothy, his wife, in ye year Anno Domini, 1719.”
Some people think this means there was a small prayer room inside the castle. Others believe it refers to a separate chapel next to the castle. This chapel was supposedly used until 1820, but no trace of it remains today.
Outside, on the north wall, you can see another family's coat of arms, the Martindale or Mulcaster family. In the garden, there's a stone sundial with the initials of Sir Richard and his wife Anne, and the date 1725.
Hayton Castle During the English Civil War
The English Civil War (1642-1651) was a difficult time for Hayton Castle and its owners. Sir Edward Musgrave, 1st Baronet, who became a baronet in 1638, was a strong supporter of the King (a Royalist). He spent his own money and risked his life for the King's cause.
He even had his own group of soldiers and fought in the Battle of Preston in 1648. It is said that when King Charles II's horse was shot during the Battle of Worcester, Sir Edward gave the King his own horse.
After the King's side lost, Sir Edward had to hide. He found safety in Scotland with the Duke of Gordon. The Parliament's leader, Oliver Cromwell, wanted Sir Edward so badly that he threatened the Duke. Sir Edward managed to escape to the Isle of Man, where he later died.
Hayton Castle was badly damaged by the Parliament's forces during the war. The south end of the castle was hit the hardest. After the war, Sir Edward's son, Richard, completely rebuilt this part of the castle.
