Helmsley Castle
Encyclopedia
Helmsley Castle is a medieval castle situated in the market town of Helmsley
, North Yorkshire
, England
.
began work on converting the castle to stone. He built two main towers, the round corner towers and the main gateway on the south side of the castle. He died in 1227, granting the castle to his older son William who lived there from 1227 to 1258. The only change made to the castle during this time was the construction of the chapel in the courtyard.
William's son, Robert, inherited the castle and was Lord of Helmsley from 1258 to 1285. Robert's son William inherited the castle. He raised the east tower and built the new hall and kitchen, as well as strengthening the castle. He also built a dividing wall in the castle, dividing it into north and south sides, with the southern half designated for the private use of the lord's family in the new hall and east tower, and the northern half containing the old hall to be used by the steward and other castle officials. Robert died in 1316.
Helmsley Castle remained in the possession of the de Roos family until 1478 when Edmund de Roos sold the castle to Richard, Duke of Gloucester who later became Richard III
. Richard did nothing to the castle, staying instead at nearby Middleham Castle
. After Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth, Helmsley castle was restored to Edmund de Roos by Henry VII
.
Edmund died childless in 1508, when Helmsley Castle was inherited by his cousin Sir George Manners of Etal
. On George's death in 1513 his son Thomas Manners inherited it. He was created Earl of Rutland
in 1525. On his death in 1543, Thomas was succeeded by his son, Henry
, but it was under the rule of his grandson Edward
, that the castle was altered next. He had the Old Hall converted into a Tudor
mansion, converted the 13th century chapel into a kitchen linked to the old hall by a covered gallery, and knocked the new hall down. The south barbican was also converted into a more comfortable residence at this time. A letter of April 1578 describes the slow progress of the mason's work, and that timber was available for a gallery in the attic of the mansion. On Edward's death in 1587 his brother John Manners
inherited the castle, followed by John's son Roger
, and then Roger's younger brother Francis
. On the death of Francis in 1632 the castle passed to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
through his marriage to Katherine
, Francis' daughter.
During the English Civil War
, the castle was besieged
by Sir Thomas Fairfax in 1644. Sir Jordan Crosland held it for the King for three months before surrendering. Parliament ordered that the castle should be slighted
to prevent its further use and so much of the castle's walls, gates and the eastern half of the east tower were destroyed. However the mansion was spared. The castle had by this time been inherited by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
who married Mary, daughter of Thomas Fairfax in 1657.
After his death in 1687 the castle was sold to Charles Duncombe, a banker and politician who was knighted in 1699 and became Lord Mayor of London
in 1708. His sister Mary's husband, Thomas Brown, inherited the castle on Charles's death in 1711. Thomas changed his name to Duncombe. He hired Sir John Vanbrugh
to build a new stately home at Duncombe Park
overlooking the castle and left the castle to decay. Although it is still owned by the Faversham family
of Duncombe Park the castle is now in the care of English Heritage
.
Helmsley
Helmsley is a market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. The town is located at the point where the valleys of Bilsdale and Ryedale leave the higher moorland and join the flat Vale of Pickering. It is situated on the River Rye and lies on the A170 road, east...
, 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
A castle, constructed in wood around 1120, was built by Walter l'Espec. Walter had no children and on his death in 1154 the castle passed to his sister Adelina who had married Peter de Roos. In 1186 their son Robert de RoosRobert de Ros
Sir Robert de Ros, or de Roos of Helmsley, , was the grandfather and ancestor of the Barons Ros of Helmsley that was created by writ in 1264. In 1215, Ros joined the confederation of the barons at Stamford...
began work on converting the castle to stone. He built two main towers, the round corner towers and the main gateway on the south side of the castle. He died in 1227, granting the castle to his older son William who lived there from 1227 to 1258. The only change made to the castle during this time was the construction of the chapel in the courtyard.
William's son, Robert, inherited the castle and was Lord of Helmsley from 1258 to 1285. Robert's son William inherited the castle. He raised the east tower and built the new hall and kitchen, as well as strengthening the castle. He also built a dividing wall in the castle, dividing it into north and south sides, with the southern half designated for the private use of the lord's family in the new hall and east tower, and the northern half containing the old hall to be used by the steward and other castle officials. Robert died in 1316.
Helmsley Castle remained in the possession of the de Roos family until 1478 when Edmund de Roos sold the castle to Richard, Duke of Gloucester who later became Richard III
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...
. Richard did nothing to the castle, staying instead at nearby Middleham Castle
Middleham Castle
Middleham Castle in Wensleydale, in the county of North Yorkshire, was built by Robert Fitzrandolph, 3rd Lord of Middleham and Spennithorne, commencing in 1190. It was built near the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle...
. After Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth, Helmsley castle was restored to Edmund de Roos by Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
.
Edmund died childless in 1508, when Helmsley Castle was inherited by his cousin Sir George Manners of Etal
Etal
Etal is a small village in the far north of the county of Northumberland, England which shares a parish with nearby Ford. It lies on a bridging point of the River Till ten miles south west of Berwick-Upon-Tweed, and can boast the substantial ruins of a medieval castle currently owned by English...
. On George's death in 1513 his son Thomas Manners inherited it. He was created Earl of Rutland
Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland
Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland, 13th Baron de Ros of Helmsley was created an earl by King Henry VIII of England in 1525.-Family background:...
in 1525. On his death in 1543, Thomas was succeeded by his son, Henry
Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland
Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland, 14th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG was the son of Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland. He also held the title of 14th Baron de Ros of Hamlake, a title to which he acceded in 1543....
, but it was under the rule of his grandson Edward
Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland
Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland, 15th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG was the son of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland, whose titles he inherited in 1563....
, that the castle was altered next. He had the Old Hall converted into a Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
mansion, converted the 13th century chapel into a kitchen linked to the old hall by a covered gallery, and knocked the new hall down. The south barbican was also converted into a more comfortable residence at this time. A letter of April 1578 describes the slow progress of the mason's work, and that timber was available for a gallery in the attic of the mansion. On Edward's death in 1587 his brother John Manners
John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland
John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland was the son of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland and Lady Margaret Neville.He married Elizabeth Charlton, daughter of Francis Charlton of Apley Castle they had ten children:...
inherited the castle, followed by John's son Roger
Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland
Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland was the son of John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland.He married Elizabeth Sidney , on 5 March 1599....
, and then Roger's younger brother Francis
Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland
Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland, KG was an English nobleman. Despite a brief imprisonment for his involvement in the Essex Rebellion of 1601, he became prominent at the court of James I. He lived at Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire...
. On the death of Francis in 1632 the castle passed to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
through his marriage to Katherine
Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham
Katherine Manners, Duchess of Buckingham, 19th Baroness de Ros of Helmsley , also known as Catherine, was the daughter and heir of the 18th Baron de Ros. She was known as the richest woman in Britain, apart from royalty...
, Francis' daughter.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, the castle was besieged
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
by Sir Thomas Fairfax in 1644. Sir Jordan Crosland held it for the King for three months before surrendering. Parliament ordered that the castle should be slighted
Slighting
A slighting is the deliberate destruction, partial or complete, of a fortification without opposition. During the English Civil War this was to render it unusable as a fort.-Middle Ages:...
to prevent its further use and so much of the castle's walls, gates and the eastern half of the east tower were destroyed. However the mansion was spared. The castle had by this time been inherited by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 20th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG, PC, FRS was an English statesman and poet.- Upbringing and education :...
who married Mary, daughter of Thomas Fairfax in 1657.
After his death in 1687 the castle was sold to Charles Duncombe, a banker and politician who was knighted in 1699 and became Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
in 1708. His sister Mary's husband, Thomas Brown, inherited the castle on Charles's death in 1711. Thomas changed his name to Duncombe. He hired Sir John Vanbrugh
John Vanbrugh
Sir John Vanbrugh – 26 March 1726) was an English architect and dramatist, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restoration comedies, The Relapse and The Provoked Wife , which have become enduring stage favourites...
to build a new stately home at Duncombe Park
Duncombe Park
Duncombe Park is the seat of the Duncombe family whose senior member takes the title Baron Feversham. It is situated near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England and stands in a commanding location above deeply incised meanders of the River Rye....
overlooking the castle and left the castle to decay. Although it is still owned by the Faversham family
Baron Feversham
Baron Feversham is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation, in the Peerage of Great Britain, came in 1747 in favour of Anthony Duncombe, who had earlier represented Salisbury and Downton in the House...
of Duncombe Park the castle is now in the care of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.