Clan Rising
Kilton Castle today

England · Ruin

Kilton Castle

Kilton Castle is a small 12th‑century stone castle on a promontory above Kilton Beck in North Yorkshire, built as a keepless curtain‑walled fortress. It was progressively ruined from the 14th century and is now an earthworks-and-foundations ruin and scheduled monument. Archaeology has revealed towers, an inner bailey and domestic ranges including a great hall with a chapel.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1190

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1190

What Kilton Castle looked like in its prime.

An elongated rectangular castle of orange-brown local sandstone, roughly 300 by 60 feet, set on a high promontory with steep slopes on three sides and a narrow necked approach from the west; long curtain walls rise along the ridge without a central keep, pierced by several round towers (including an over-60-foot North Tower and an apsidal tower) and a west barbican and gate passage. The plan contains an outer courtyard and stables, a great hall with an internal chantry chapel, an inner bailey protected by circular towers, and a deep well.

Its story

The story of Kilton Castle.

Kilton Castle stands ruined on a promontory above Kilton Beck in the old North Riding of Yorkshire, slopes rising to three sides and a narrow entrance along the valley wall to the west, a commanding position that earned it the label "most powerful baronial fortress in Cleveland". Rebuilt in stone in the late 12th century without a keep, it is reckoned the first keepless castle in the north of England.

The land was granted to the de Brus family after the Conquest, and the castle passed through a chain of local noble families: de Brus, de Kilton, Autrey, de Thweng, de Lumley. Sir William de Kylton built the Chantry Chapel of St Peter within the great hall. By August 1294 the heiress Lucia had been married, against her own and her family's wishes, to William de Latimer, whose family used the marriage to reach for the de Thweng castles and lands.

Lucia arranged that her sons would inherit none of the de Thweng estates, so Kilton went to her uncle, Marmaduke Thweng, 1st Baron Thweng. After Marmaduke de Thweng fell at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and the 1st Baron's second son William died without an heir, the castle was bequeathed to his eldest daughter, Lucia de Lumley, in 1341; Ralph Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, de-consecrated the chapel in 1398. Described as ruinous by the 14th century, the castle was totally abandoned by the 16th.

Step inside

12 places to explore in 1190.

The record describes 12 distinct spots at Kilton Castle, including 6 interiors: stable tower, cellar and kitchen range, great hall with the chantry chapel of st peter and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

West approach on the narrow promontory neckBarbican and entrance gateOuter courtyard and stablesStable TowerCellar and kitchen rangeBarbican passage and gate approachGreat Hall with the Chantry Chapel of St PeterInner bailey with circular towersNorth Tower (principal tower)Apsidal TowerWell at the castle yardPromontory overlook above Kilton Beck

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Whose castle

Clans who held Kilton Castle.

The families that held Kilton Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • de Brus

    Granted the lands around Kilton and Skinningrove after the Conquest.

  • de Kilton

    Among the castle's early owning families; Sir William de Kylton built the chantry chapel in the great hall.

  • de Thweng

    Held Kilton through the 13th and early 14th centuries, until the line's estates passed on in 1341.

  • de Lumley

    Bequeathed to Lucia de Lumley in 1341; Ralph Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, de-consecrated the chapel in 1398.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Kilton Castle.

Riverside Stadium, EnglandStadiumRiverside Stadium20 km awayWhitby Abbey, EnglandMonasteryWhitby Abbey21 km awayAyresome Park, EnglandStadiumAyresome Park21 km away

Questions about Kilton Castle

What is the history of Kilton Castle?

Kilton Castle was built as a 12th-century fortress on a promontory above Kilton Beck. It was first built in timber and later rebuilt in local stone without a keep, probably around 1190. The castle passed through the de Brus, de Kilton, Autrey, de Thweng and de Lumley families, was described as ruinous by the 14th century, and was abandoned by the 16th.

What is inside Kilton Castle?

Inside Kilton Castle are the remains of a great hall, the Chantry Chapel of St Peter, a cellar and kitchen range, stables, circular towers and a deep well. The Stable Tower, North Tower and Apsidal Tower are among the documented spaces. Archaeology also revealed an inner bailey protected by two circular towers.

Why was Kilton Castle built, and what was it used for?

Kilton Castle was built to serve as a fortified stronghold in a commanding defensive position. Its promontory had steep slopes on three sides, while the western approach was protected by a narrow neck, deep ditches and a barbican. Its keepless design used curtain walls, towers and natural obstacles rather than a central keep.

Where is Kilton Castle?

Kilton Castle is on a promontory above Kilton Beck in North Yorkshire, near the village of Kilton. It stands in the historic North Riding of Yorkshire, in the area now associated with Redcar and Cleveland. The castle overlooks the valley of Kilton Beck from a high position with steep slopes on three sides.

When was Kilton Castle built?

Kilton Castle was built in the 12th century, in more than one phase. The castle was first raised in timber around 1140 and was later rebuilt in local stone around 1190. The stone rebuilding used a keepless plan, making Kilton Castle a possible first keepless castle in the north of England.

Was Kilton Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Kilton Castle was besieged by Peter de Mauley between 1215 and 1216. The assault came from the west, the only practical approach across the narrow neck of land. Kilton Castle held out because of its defensive position and did not fall; an accord was made between de Mauley and Sir Richard de Alta Ripa after the death of King John in 1216.

Which family or clan held Kilton Castle?

Kilton Castle was held by the de Brus, de Kilton, de Thweng and de Lumley families, among others. The de Brus received the lands around Kilton and Skinningrove after the Conquest. The de Thweng family held Kilton through the 13th and early 14th centuries, before the estates passed to Lucia de Lumley in 1341.

What did Kilton Castle look like in its prime?

Kilton Castle was an elongated rectangular fortress of orange-brown local sandstone, about 300 by 60 feet. Its long curtain walls followed a high promontory without a central keep and were pierced by round towers, including the over-60-foot North Tower and an apsidal tower. A west barbican and gate passage protected the narrow approach.

Is Kilton Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Kilton Castle is now a ruin consisting of earthworks and foundations. It was progressively ruined from the 14th century and totally abandoned by the 16th century. Archaeological excavations in the 1960s and 1970s revealed parts of the inner bailey and circular towers, whose foundations remain underground.

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