Whorlton Castle — Attraction in Whorlton

Whorlton Castle, located near Swainby in North Yorkshire, England, boasts a history that stretches back to the Norman Conquest.

Originally constructed in the late 11th or early 12th century by the de Meynell family, the castle served as a fortified manor house, reflecting the feudal system and the need for defence in the turbulent medieval period. The strategic location on a promontory provided natural defences, making it a significant stronghold in the region.

The castle's architecture evolved over the centuries, with notable additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, including a gatehouse and other domestic buildings. The surviving gatehouse, with its decorative features and robust structure, is a highlight of the site, illustrating the blend of defensive and residential purposes typical of such edifices.

Although Whorlton Castle fell into decline after the medieval period and was largely abandoned by the 17th century, its ruins continue to be an important historical landmark.

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A real hidden gem, Whorlton castle was built around the early 12th century or maybe a little earlier, all that remains is the gatehouse,no definitive date, before the castle building, the land itself belonged to the half brother of William the conqueror. Originally the castle was a motte and bailey, this was the style the normans brought with them on their murderous conquest, the castle became a partially ruin in the mid 1300's until the mid 1400's where John Darcy made many changes, from then it was occupied by many different nobles until the late 19th century. In 1875 much of the stonework was removed to build Stainby's village church, it did achieve a status listing and is a grade 1 listed structure, definitely...

A ruined medieval castle in North Yorkshire, the majority of the standing ruins are made up of the gatehouse. It is privately owned, but can be visited by the public. There is no information about the site when you visit.

The ruins themselves are in pretty bad condition, and very much vandalised. There is graffiti everywhere, quite a bit of broken glass and rubbish strewn around, so mind your step.

That said, it's a pretty dramatic place. The views are outstanding across the valleys and peaks, and when we visited there was heather burning on the moors so we could smell the fragrant smoke. Its out of the way and quiet and a place I would...