Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Bolton Castle
Hob Uid: 48868
Location : North Yorkshire Richmondshire Castle Bolton with East and West Bolton
Grid Ref : SE0337091830
Summary : Remains of a quadrangular castle, built by Richard le Scrope in 1378-1399. Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned here in 1568-9. Besieged and slighted during the Civil War in 1645. There are planning similarities with Bodiam Castle (TQ 72 NE 1) in that it can be broken down into eight major household units and some twelve lesser lodgings all integrated into one unified conception The walls have recently been consolidated by English Heritage.
More information : SE 0337 9183. Bolton Castle (NR) (in ruins) (AD 1378). (NAT) Well (NR). (1) SE 0333 7982. Moat (NR). Bolton Castle (NR) (remains of) (NAT). (2) Bolton Castle, a rectangular fortified house with square angle towers, enclosing a courtyard, built by Richard le Scrope 1378-99. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here 1568-9 and the castle was besieged and `slighted' during the Civil War 1645 (3). Faulkner stated that the castle was "built on a fresh site", inferring an earlier castle in the vicinity, although VCH gives no mention of this. The interior of the 14th century castle can be broken down into eight major household units and some twelve lesser lodgings all integrated into one unified conception. For planning similarities see Bodiam Castle (see TQ 72 NE/1) Plan (4). Castle. Late C14. By John Lewyn, master-mason, for Richard le Scrope. Rubble with ashlar dressings. Four 3-storey ranges about a rectangular courtyard, with 4-storey corner towers, that to north-east demolished. Turrets in the centres of north and south ranges. Entrance was by a gatehouse in the east range, with a chamfered pointed arch set in a taller arch, the passage barrel-vaulted.Grade I (5). (3-6) As described, and in good condition. The west and part of the south wings are still in use and incorporate a museum. The well is extant and in good condition. At the south west corner are the only traces of the alleged moat (auth 1) but is most likely that this has been incorrectly interpreted and is merely a landscaping feature. There are no other remains, and as the ground falls away steeply on the east and south sides a moat seems to be unlikely. (7) SE 034 918. Bolton Castle. Scheduled No NY 14. (8) A four-phase conservation project has been completed by English Heritage to address the serious threat to the castle indicated by freshly-fallen stones both inside and outside the walls. The walls have now been almost entirely repointed and all the wall tops consolidated. Archaeological work included photogrammetry, rectified photography and the accurate recording of the restoration work on the outer walls. (9) Listed by Cathcart King. (10)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 25" map, 1912
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : OS 6" map, 1958
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Source Number : 3
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Page(s) : 272-3
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Vol(s) : 1914

Source Number : 4
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Source details : (P A Faulkner)
Page(s) : 225-30,234
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Vol(s) : 120- 1963

Source Number : 5
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Source details : DOE (HHR), Leyburn Rural District, Yorkshire North Riding, July 1966, p 11
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : List Ancient Monuments, 1971, p 266
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Field Investigator, AGM, 11-AUG-1977
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Source Number : 8
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Source details :
Page(s) : 24
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Vol(s) : 1994

Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 8
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Vol(s) : 66 - 1995

Source Number : 10
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Source details :
Page(s) : 513-4
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Vol(s) : Feb-83

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Built 1378-1399
Monument End Date : 1399
Monument Start Date : 1378
Monument Type : Quadrangular Castle, Gatehouse, Angle Tower
Evidence : Ruined Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : beseiged and slighted
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 1645
Monument Type : Castle
Evidence : Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : NY 14
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 321750
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SE 09 SW 2
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Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1977-08-11
End Date : 1977-08-11

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1989-01-01
End Date : 1989-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1990-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD SURVEY
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Bolton Castle