Pickering Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pickering Castle |
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| Pickering, North Yorkshire, England | |
Defensive wall and tower of Pickering castle
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| Coordinates | 54°15′0″N 0°46′32″W / 54.25000°N 0.77556°W |
| Type | Motte and Bailey castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | English Heritage |
Pickering Castle is an old castle in Pickering, North Yorkshire, England. It's a special type of castle called a motte-and-bailey. This means it has a big mound (the motte) and a walled area (the bailey). Today, it's looked after by English Heritage and you can visit it!
Contents
How the Castle Was Built
Pickering Castle started as a simple castle made of wood and earth. Over time, it was made much stronger with stone.
From Wood to Stone
The castle began as a "motte and bailey" design. This means it had a large earth mound, called a motte. On top of the motte, there was a wooden tower. Around the motte was a fenced area called a bailey.
Later, the wooden parts were replaced with stone. The tower on the motte became a stone "shell keep." This was a strong, round stone wall built around the top of the mound.
Expanding the Castle
The main walled area, known as the inner ward, was built between 1180 and 1187. This area was originally the bailey. A chapel was also added or rebuilt between 1216 and 1236. You can see a recreated chapel at the castle today.
Between 1323 and 1326, the castle got even bigger. An outer ward was added, along with a strong outer wall called a curtain wall. This wall had three towers to help defend it.
Defenses and Features
To make the castle harder to attack, two ditches were dug. One was outside the main curtain wall, and another was inside the outer ward.
After these big changes, more buildings were added inside. These included a gatehouse (the main entrance), ovens for cooking, a large hall, and storehouses.
The castle is built in a great spot in the Vale of Pickering. It has a very steep cliff on its west side. This natural cliff made it much harder for enemies to attack.
History of Pickering Castle
The first castle here was built by the Normans in 1069–1070. This happened soon after William the Conqueror took control of England. The castle's main job was to help control the area after a time of unrest called the "Harrying of the North." This was when William the Conqueror put down rebellions in northern England.
A Well-Preserved Castle
Pickering Castle is special because it is still very well-preserved. Many other castles were badly damaged in later wars. However, Pickering Castle was mostly untouched by the Wars of the Roses in the 1400s. It also escaped major damage during the English Civil War in the 1600s.
In 1926, the Ministry of Works took over the castle. This group later became English Heritage. Today, Pickering Castle is a Scheduled monument. This means it's a very important historical site protected by law. It is open for people to visit and explore its long history.
