Copyright: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

MYD4561



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Bolton Castle


Description:  Castle. Late C14th. 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. Plinths, quoins. The original windows are lancets with cinque-cusped heads and labels, with some in the south-west tower altered to form 3-light mullion and transom windows. Interior: main chambers on the first floor of the north range, chapel on the second floor of the south range with, in addition, eight apartments and twelve lodgings for retainers. The building was already partly constructed in 1378. A contract, dated 1378, survives for construction of the east range, and a licence for the crenellation of the castle was granted in 1379. The chapel was dedicated in 1399. Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned here 1568-9. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. (1) 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. (2) Faulkner stated that the castle was "built on a fresh site", inferring an earlier castle in the vicinity, although the VCH gives no mention of this. The interior of the C14th 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. (3-4) 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 (see Source 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. (5) Bolton Castle. Scheduled No. NY 14. (6) 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. (7) An Article 4 Direction was issued in 1984 to restrict normal permitted development rights concerning agricultural buildings within the area around Bolton Castle. To support this a photographic record was made with maps showing specific views of the castle and its setting. (8) Archaeological recording carried out before and during works to the roof of the West Range. (9) Report on the garden by Yorkshire Gardens Trust, pre-2012. (10) Chapel consecrated in 1399, dedicated to St. Anne and endowed by the founder as a chantry for 6 priests to say daily masses. Located on the 2nd floor and goes through to the floor above. In the east wall is a piscina and in the turret in the south side are three cells. Each cell has a fireplace and a lavatory and in the middle cell there is a squint looking towards the altar (though no trace of this remains). The chapel has three tall windows to the north plus two narrow ones corresponding to the chancel and two plus one plus a turret between on the south side- Perpendicular style. At the west end of the chapel a wide semi-circular arch forms a deep alcove over which is a platform, described as "The Lady's Gallery". The gallery originally had a wall and possibly a grill looking into the chapel. It is entered by a staircase from the South West tower. In a turret on the South West tower hung the chapel bell rung from a cell near the chapel door. From details of the will of the first Lord Scrope dated 1400 we know the Chapel was richly endowed with vestments and altar furnishings. (11)

Country:  England

County:  North Yorkshire

District:  Richmondshire

Parish:  Castle Bolton with East and West Bolton

Grid Reference:   SE033918

Map Reference:  [EPSG:27700] 403375, 491835

Period:  1378 - 1399, MEDIEVAL

Subject:  FORTIFIED HOUSE

Intervention Type:  EXCAVATION, ARCHIVE INTERPRETATION/EVALUATION, FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY

Identifiers: 
[ADS] Depositor Id: MYD4561
[ADS] Associated Id: National Monuments Record SE 09 SW 2
[ADS] Associated Id: Listed Building 5/1
[ADS] Associated Id: Scheduled Monument N YORKS 14
[ADS] Associated Id: Monarch UID 48868
[ADS] Import RCN: YDNPA13-MYD4561

People Involved: 
[Publisher] Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Bibliographic References: 

  • Askrigg Workers' Educational Association (1990) Churches, Chapels And Meeting Houses Of Wensleydale, Bolton Castle- The Chapel
  • Brigantia Archaeological Practice (2005) Archaeological Recording in Association with Repairs to the Roof of the Western Range of Bolton Castle
  • Department of the Environment (1986) 25th List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest
  • Ordnance Survey (nd) OS Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comment, A.G. Markendale, 11/08/1977
  • William Page (editor) (1914) The Victoria History of the County of Yorkshire, North Riding: Volume One, Pgs.272-273
  • Yorkshire Gardens Trust (2012) Yorkshire Gardens Trust: reports to January 2012