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Ravensworth Castle today

England · Ruin

Ravensworth Castle

Ravensworth Castle is a medieval castle in Ravensworth, North Yorkshire, with surviving late 14th-century masonry. The standing remains consist mainly of a three-storey tower attached to a gatehouse, with additional wall and tower fragments and surrounding earthworks and parkland.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1391

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1391

What Ravensworth Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact, rectangular three-storey stone tower of sandstone ashlar is joined to a gatehouse; both sit within a broad dry moat. The tower has narrow slit windows and projected vertical features at the corners; further lengths of curtain wall and an isolated tower fragment lie nearby. The castle occupies open parkland with low earthwork banks and a park wall enclosing the grounds. Masonry is coursed sandstone with ashlar facing and crenellated parapets at roofline when complete.

Its story

The story of Ravensworth Castle.

King John's Visit and the FitzHugh Castle, 1201-1391

The earliest reference to Ravensworth Castle records a visit from King John in 1201. The stonework that survives dates from the late fourteenth century, when the castle belonged to Henry, 1st Baron FitzHugh.

In 1391 FitzHugh enclosed 200 acres (81 ha) around the castle to create a park. The castle sits on the south-east side of the village of Ravensworth, surrounded by a dry moat.

Dismantled for Its Stone from the 16th Century

Dismantling of the castle began in the sixteenth century and went on gradually, the stone being taken away for use in other buildings in the area. The remaining structure, built of sandstone and faced with ashlar, consists of a three-storey tower attached to a gatehouse, with further wall and tower fragments.

Grade I Listing and Scheduled Monument, 1969

Ravensworth Castle and Park Wall were given a Grade I listed building designation by English Heritage on 4 February 1969, the grade used for buildings "of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important". The castle and the earthworks beside it are also designated a scheduled monument.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1391.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Ravensworth Castle, including 1 interior: through the gatehouse into the inner courtyard. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the south across the parkAt the edge of the dry moat, looking up at the tower baseThrough the gatehouse into the inner courtyardOn top of the tower battlementsAlong the park wall and earthworksBeside a surviving wall and tower fragment

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Recreate Ravensworth Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1391, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Ravensworth Castle.

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

  • FitzHugh

    Belonged to Henry, 1st Baron FitzHugh, in the late 14th century.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Ravensworth Castle.

Ayresome Park, EnglandStadiumAyresome Park37 km awayDurham Cathedral, EnglandCathedralDurham Cathedral37 km awayRiverside Stadium, EnglandStadiumRiverside Stadium39 km away

Questions about Ravensworth Castle

What is the history of Ravensworth Castle?

Ravensworth Castle is a 14th-century castle whose surviving masonry dates mainly from the late 14th century, when it belonged to Henry, 1st Baron FitzHugh. In 1391, he enclosed 200 acres around the castle to create a park. The castle was gradually dismantled from the 16th century, and its stone was reused in nearby buildings.

What is inside Ravensworth Castle?

Inside Ravensworth Castle, the documented route passes through the gatehouse into the inner courtyard. The surviving structure is chiefly a three-storey tower attached to that gatehouse, rather than a complete interior complex. Further wall and tower fragments remain around the courtyard area.

Where is Ravensworth Castle?

Ravensworth Castle is on the south-east side of the village of Ravensworth in North Yorkshire, England. It stands within surrounding earthworks and parkland and is enclosed by a dry moat. Ravensworth is the nearest named settlement associated with its location.

When was Ravensworth Castle built?

Ravensworth Castle was built in the 14th century, with the surviving masonry dating from the late 14th century. The first-raised year is not recorded, so no more precise construction date can be given. The remaining structure belongs to the period when the castle belonged to Henry, 1st Baron FitzHugh.

Which family or clan held Ravensworth Castle?

Ravensworth Castle was held by Henry, 1st Baron FitzHugh, in the late 14th century. The surviving masonry dates from that period, when the castle belonged to him. In 1391, he enclosed 200 acres around the castle, creating a park.

What did Ravensworth Castle look like in its prime?

Ravensworth Castle was a compact sandstone structure with a rectangular three-storey tower joined to a gatehouse. Its sandstone masonry had ashlar facing, narrow slit windows, projected vertical corner features and crenellated parapets when complete. The buildings stood within a broad dry moat, with curtain-wall lengths and an isolated tower fragment nearby.

Is Ravensworth Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Ravensworth Castle is now a ruin, with surviving late 14th-century masonry. The remains consist mainly of a three-storey tower attached to a gatehouse, together with fragments of walls and towers. The castle was gradually dismantled from the 16th century, and some of its stone was used for other buildings in the area.

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