Spofforth Castle
Encyclopedia
Spofforth Castle in the village of Spofforth, North Yorkshire
, England comprises the ruins of a hall range and is all that remains from a fortified house. The current castle
was built by the Percy family
in the early 13th century, with alterations made in the 14th/15th centuries. The original was a Motte and Bailey structure built by William de Percy, 1st Baron Percy
, at some point after 1071, when he was granted the lands of Spofforth and Topcliffe
.
The Percy estates were confiscated after the rebellion against King Henry IV of England
in 1408 and given to Sir Thomas Rokeby
. They were later restored and then lost again in 1461 when the Percys supported the losing side in the War of the Roses. Spofforth was eventually returned to the family and inhabited until 1604. Part of the castle was built in the 13th century, some in the 14th, and some more added on in later centuries. The castle was reduced to ruins during the Civil War
(1642 – 1646).
The ruins are now listed as a grade II* listed building and under the guardianship of English Heritage
. They are managed by Spofforth-with-Stockeld Parish Council.
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 comprises the ruins of a hall range and is all that remains from a fortified house. The current castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
was built by the Percy family
House of Percy
The House of Percy were the most powerful noble family in Northern England for much of the Middle Ages, having descended from William de Percy who crossed from Normandy to England with William I in early December 1067 and was rebuilding York Castle in 1070...
in the early 13th century, with alterations made in the 14th/15th centuries. The original was a Motte and Bailey structure built by William de Percy, 1st Baron Percy
William de Percy, 1st Baron Percy
William de Percy, 1st Baron Percy known as Aux Gernons , was a Norman baron who arrived in England immediately after the Norman Conquest of England, and was the founder of the powerful English House of Percy....
, at some point after 1071, when he was granted the lands of Spofforth and Topcliffe
Topcliffe
Topcliffe may refer to:*Topcliffe, North Yorkshire*Topcliffe, West Yorkshire*RAF Topcliffe*Richard Topcliffe...
.
The Percy estates were confiscated after the rebellion against King Henry IV of England
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
in 1408 and given to Sir Thomas Rokeby
Thomas de Rokeby (High Sheriff)
Sir Thomas de Rokeby was a 15th century English soldier, Knight of the Shire and High Sheriff of Yorkshire.He was born into a well-known north Yorkshire family with a seat at Mortham on the banks of the Tees....
. They were later restored and then lost again in 1461 when the Percys supported the losing side in the War of the Roses. Spofforth was eventually returned to the family and inhabited until 1604. Part of the castle was built in the 13th century, some in the 14th, and some more added on in later centuries. The castle was reduced to ruins during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
(1642 – 1646).
The ruins are now listed as a grade II* listed building and under the guardianship 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...
. They are managed by Spofforth-with-Stockeld Parish Council.