Spofforth Castle, Spofforth, W Yorks, UK
Posted by: 
bill&ben
N 53° 57.295 W 001° 27.150
30U E 601543 N 5979614
The remains of a castle developed from a fortified medieval manor house.
Waymark Code: WMVATX
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/25/2017
Views: 2
The Lordship of Spofforth was conferred on William de Percy by William the Conquerer around 1067. De Percy built a manor house in Spofforth, probably consisting of a hall, outbuildings and a wooden palisade. In 1308 Henry de Percy obtained a licence from Edward II to fortify the house at Spofforth. He further acquired the Manor of Alnwick in 1309, which became the centre of the Percy family. Spofforth declined in importance from that time.
In the Wars of the Roses the 3rd Earl Percy and his brother, Sir Richard Percy, were killed at the Battle of Towton in 1461. The Yorkist Earl of Warwick marched to Spofforth and burnt the castle down. The castle was neglected until 1559 when Henry Lord Percy restored the castle as an occasional residence. The last occupant was the castle steward Sampson Ingleby, who died in 1604. The castle was reduced to ruin during the Civil War. In 1924 Charles Henry, Baron Leconfield, transferred ownership of the site to the state by deed of gift. The castle is now maintained by English Heritage.
The original castle would have consisted of four ranges grouped around a courtyard. Today only the western range exists. The western range is a two storied building with one story being supported on a rocky outcrop on the eastern flank. The range contained the private apartments and the hall, below which is an undercroft. There is an octagonal stair turret in one corner.
Accessibility: Full access
Condition: Partly ruined
Admission Charge?: no
Website: [Web Link]
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