Richmond Castle in Richmond North Yorkshire
Constructed in 1071, Richmond Castle is one of the oldest surviving stone-built castles in Britain. It was founded as part of the Norman Conquest of England and became a crucial stronghold in Yorkshire following the "harrying of the north" - William I's scorched earth response to local uprisings. Its strategic position, on a 100 ft escarpment overlooking eastern Swaledale, offers tourists a picturesque view of Richmond (including its cobbled marketplace, the largest in the country) and the epic surrounding countryside.
The catalyst for the castle's inception can be traced back to a single event - the 1069 slaughter of the Norman garrison at York by English dissenters. After the successful Norman retaliation, the lands of north Yorkshire were divided between William's most loyal followers. In this allotment, Alan de Ponthievre "Alan the Red" of Brittany, who played a part in the Battle of Hastings, received the borough of Richmond. Unlike de Ponthievre's other project at the nearby Middleham, Richmond Castle was built from stone from the off, an unusual occurrence for the time. The castle is also unique in having two keeps. The first, Scolland's Hall, has been with it since its foundation, and still remains, minus its roof. However, it was soon dwarfed with the addition of the new 100 ft keep in the 12th century. This extension was begun by Conan the Little and completed by King Henry II. Built with 11-ft-thick walls, it was made to last, and is the best-preserved section of the castle. Today, it can be climbed for some magnificent views.
Despite its bulky defences, Richmond Castle was subjected to very little fighting. In fact, the only military conflicts it saw were a handful of skirmishes with Scottish raiding parties in and around the 14th century. This lack of engagements, along with the castle's strong foundations, is often credited for the structure's impressive condition. Today, the most complete of its three curtain walls (the castle is effectively an equilateral triangle) is the Eastern Wall. Along it exist three towers, including Robin Hood's or the "Lion's Tower"; so-called as it once held Scottish king William the Lion captive. At its base are the remains of one of the oldest sections of the castle: the 10th-century Chapel of St Nicholas.
Remarkably, Richmond underwent very little work from the 14th century onwards, save for some repairs to the keep and the battlements. It passed through a number of hands before becoming the headquarters of the Northern Territorial Army 1908, when it was commanded by Robert Baden-Powell. During World War I, it was used to imprison conscientious objectors, the graffiti of whom still remains on some cell walls. This story, along with all the others of the castle, are re-told at the on-site Exhibition Centre via its virtual reality touch screen guides. Also under its roof are a number of artefacts excavated from the castle grounds and the surrounding area.
Outside, the new Contemporary Heritage Garden is one of ten in English Heritage's successful series of modern gardens in historic settings; it offers a quiet, peaceful place in which to admire the scenery.
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