Malton Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malton Castle |
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| Malton, North Yorkshire | |
 Malton Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°08′05″N 0°47′31″W / 54.13469°N 0.79192°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Fragmentary remains |
Malton Castle was an old castle located in Malton, North Yorkshire, England. It started as a wooden fort built by William Tyson in the 11th century. This castle was special because it was built on the site of an even older Roman fort called Derventio Brigantum. Over time, it was rebuilt with strong stone walls and played a part in many historical events.
Contents
The Story of Malton Castle
From Wood to Stone
The first castle at Malton was a motte and bailey castle. This means it had a tall mound (the motte) with a tower on top, and a fenced-in area (the bailey) below. It was built by William Tyson, who was the lord of Alnwick, in the 11th century.
Later, the castle was given to a person named Eustace fitz John. He decided to make the castle much stronger. Eustace rebuilt the wooden parts of the castle using stone. This made Malton Castle a powerful fortress.
Royal Visits and Battles
Malton Castle saw a lot of action and important visitors. In 1138, Eustace fitz John made a deal to give the castle to King David I of Scotland. Scottish soldiers then took control of the castle. However, it was captured back by English forces later that same year.
Many English kings visited the castle. King Richard I of England came to Malton Castle in 1189. King Edward II of England also visited in 1307.
The castle was even involved in a big conflict called the First Barons' War. During this time, the castle was held against King John of England.
Destruction and Ruins
A major event happened in 1322. After a battle called the battle of Old Byland, King Robert I of Scotland attacked Malton Castle. His forces captured the castle and then destroyed it.
After this destruction, the castle was never fully repaired. It slowly fell into ruins over many years. Today, only a few parts of the original medieval castle remain. You can still see the old gatehouse and some short sections of the original stone walls. The gatehouse is now used as a hotel.
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A New House and Its Fate
In 1569, a new house was built on the castle site. This house was constructed by Ralph, Lord Eure. Over time, the house was inherited by two sisters from the Eure family, Margaret and Mary.
However, in 1674, the sisters had a big disagreement about who owned the house. They took their argument to the County Sheriff. To solve the problem, the Sheriff made a surprising decision: he destroyed the house! He then put the stones into two equal piles so the sisters could share them fairly.
Today, the site where Malton Castle once stood is recognized as a scheduled monument. This means it is an important historical site that is protected.
