Cawood Castle
Encyclopedia
Cawood Castle was a palace
for the Archbishops of York. The remains of the castle are located in Cawood
, a village in North Yorkshire
, England
.
during 1374 and 1388. It was visited by many kings, including King John, who hunted game in nearby Bishop's Wood in the 13th Century. Numerous documents show that the palace regularly changed inhabitants and was often improved. Among these improvements was the gatehouse
, which was constructed by Archbishop John Kemp
. It was constructed with stone from Huddlestone which supplied stone for York Minster
.
On January 15, 1466, George Neville held a feast at the castle in celebration of becoming Archbishop of York. The Earl of Warwick, the Archbishop's brother, aided in the preparation of the feast and is said to have wanted a feast larger than the King's coronation feast. Guests included the Duke of Gloucester
, the King's brother. The feast lasted several days and became known as the "Great Feast of Cawood" due to the size of it. Records from the feast show that a substantial quantity of food was consumed, including 104 oxen, 6 wild bulls, 400 swan
s, 1000 capon
s and 104 peacocks; 25,000 gallons of wine
were consumed with the meal. One year later, in 1467, Lawrence Booth became the Archbishop of York. Henry Bowet became Archbishop of York in 1407, until his death in 1423.
Cardinal Wolsey came to Cawood as Archbishop of York in 1530 and made himself popular with the villagers by putting right years of neglect. However, before he was installed as Archbishop in York, the Earl of Northumberland arrested him on charges of high treason; Wolsey fell ill at Leicester on his way to London, and died. He therefore fulfilled Mother Shipton's prophecy, that he would see the towers of York Minster but would never be enthroned there.
In 1642, the English Civil War
began and the village and castle were identified as a Royalist stronghold. The castle was captured by the Parliamentarians
from the Royalists
, however the Earl of Newcastle
briefly recaptured it for the Royalists in 1644. Shortly after, however, Lord Fairfax recaptured it and it was used as a prisoner of war
camp. Once the war ended the castle was abandoned and destroyed, with only the farm buildings and parts of the wall remaining. The cellar was filled in with rubble and soil.
Cawood Castle is now owned by the Landmark Trust
, who operate it as a "holiday let". In 1932, the gatehouse was converted into a courthouse for the local people before being used as an officers' mess
and a building for the Home Guard during World War II
. The Castle Garth was bought by the Parish council in order to keep it as an open space in the heart of the village. At its centre is a pond, built as a skating pond in the 19th century. There are also remains of the medieval fish ponds.
The castle is now in the ownership of the Landmark Trust
who restored it, however the banqueting hall still has no lighting. Outside the banqueting hall can be seen remains of other structures - there were more modern farm buildings and a wall along the road, which were removed when the Landmark Trust took over the Castle and restored it. Within the last ten years, there were cows grazing in the garth.
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
for the Archbishops of York. The remains of the castle are located in Cawood
Cawood
Cawood is a large village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England that is notable as the finding-place of the Cawood sword....
, a village in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The Saxon King Athelstan probably built the first fortification at Cawood on the site of the present castle ruins. The castle's presence was first mentioned in 1181 before being converted into a quadrangular castleQuadrangular castle
A quadrangular castle or courtyard castle is a type of castle characterised by ranges of buildings which are integral with the curtain walls, enclosing a central ward or quadrangle, and typically with angle towers. There is no keep and frequently no distinct gatehouse...
during 1374 and 1388. It was visited by many kings, including King John, who hunted game in nearby Bishop's Wood in the 13th Century. Numerous documents show that the palace regularly changed inhabitants and was often improved. Among these improvements was the gatehouse
Gatehouse
A gatehouse, in architectural terminology, is a building enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a castle, manor house, fort, town or similar buildings of importance.-History:...
, which was constructed by Archbishop John Kemp
John Kemp
John Kemp was a medieval English cardinal, archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor of England.-Biography:Kemp was son of Thomas Kempe, a gentleman of Ollantigh, in the parish of Wye near Ashford, Kent...
. It was constructed with stone from Huddlestone which supplied stone for York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
.
On January 15, 1466, George Neville held a feast at the castle in celebration of becoming Archbishop of York. The Earl of Warwick, the Archbishop's brother, aided in the preparation of the feast and is said to have wanted a feast larger than the King's coronation feast. Guests included the Duke of Gloucester
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, the King's brother. The feast lasted several days and became known as the "Great Feast of Cawood" due to the size of it. Records from the feast show that a substantial quantity of food was consumed, including 104 oxen, 6 wild bulls, 400 swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
s, 1000 capon
Capon
A capon is a rooster that has been castrated to improve the quality of its flesh for food.-History:The Romans are credited with inventing the capon. The Lex Faunia of 162 BC forbade fattening hens in order to conserve grain rations. In order to get around this the Romans castrated roosters, which...
s and 104 peacocks; 25,000 gallons of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
were consumed with the meal. One year later, in 1467, Lawrence Booth became the Archbishop of York. Henry Bowet became Archbishop of York in 1407, until his death in 1423.
Cardinal Wolsey came to Cawood as Archbishop of York in 1530 and made himself popular with the villagers by putting right years of neglect. However, before he was installed as Archbishop in York, the Earl of Northumberland arrested him on charges of high treason; Wolsey fell ill at Leicester on his way to London, and died. He therefore fulfilled Mother Shipton's prophecy, that he would see the towers of York Minster but would never be enthroned there.
In 1642, the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
began and the village and castle were identified as a Royalist stronghold. The castle was captured by the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
from the Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
, however the Earl of Newcastle
Earl of Newcastle
Earl of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a title that has been created two times. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1623 in favour of Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox. He was made Duke of Richmond at the same time. For information on this creation, see the Duke of Lennox...
briefly recaptured it for the Royalists in 1644. Shortly after, however, Lord Fairfax recaptured it and it was used as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp. Once the war ended the castle was abandoned and destroyed, with only the farm buildings and parts of the wall remaining. The cellar was filled in with rubble and soil.
Current status
The only remaining parts of the castle are the gatehouse and the banqueting hall. Stones from the destroyed castle were used in the construction of surrounding houses. The foundations of some other structures do remain as well as the castle's cellar which was excavated in the 19th century.Cawood Castle is now owned by the Landmark Trust
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
, who operate it as a "holiday let". In 1932, the gatehouse was converted into a courthouse for the local people before being used as an officers' mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
and a building for the Home Guard during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Castle Garth was bought by the Parish council in order to keep it as an open space in the heart of the village. At its centre is a pond, built as a skating pond in the 19th century. There are also remains of the medieval fish ponds.
The castle is now in the ownership of the Landmark Trust
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
who restored it, however the banqueting hall still has no lighting. Outside the banqueting hall can be seen remains of other structures - there were more modern farm buildings and a wall along the road, which were removed when the Landmark Trust took over the Castle and restored it. Within the last ten years, there were cows grazing in the garth.