Mulgrave Castle is unusual in that there are three different fortifications or homes within close proximity that all bear the same name. The first was a Norman era motte and bailey, the second an enclosure castle constructed c1200, and the third a stately home with landscaped gardens built in part over the c1200 sites outer defences. The site is around 5 miles by track from Whitby and overlooks two becks [streams] that feed into the bay to the north of Whitby. Defensively it has strategic importance as a deterrent to raiders landing on the beaches near Whitby and had uses protecting the area against Scottish incursions.

The Legend of Wada

Legend has it that a fortification was built at Mulgrave in the 7th century by a local ruler named Wada. This tale is recounted in several antiquarian books, such as Handbook for Travellers in Yorkshire and for Residents in the County [Link to entry]. 

 Norman Motte and Bailey Castle at Mulgrave

Remains of the Motte and Bailey Castle built for Fossard at Mulgrave. Image Copyright Mick Garratt and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.Whilst Wada’s castle is a possibility, no archaeological evidence has been noted to support it. There is, however, evidence of the early Norman Motte and Bailey Castle at Mulgrave.  Domesday Book notes that the lands at Mulgrave were held by Nigel Fossard, from the Count of Mortain. When the Count rebelled against William the Conqueror Fossard was awarded the Honour of Mulgrave and became a tenant-in-chief in his own right. It was as a feudal baron that Fossard built a castle at Mulgrave.

It is believed to have been in place by 1120. Castles across Fossard’s landholdings were of importance. Yorkshire and the far North East had presented problems for the Norman Kings and as his lands were entirely within this region, Fossard would be of importance to King Henry I as a means of ensuring royal control over a large area: Fossard held 114 Manors at Domesday and the Honour of Mulgrave alone was later noted as being worth over 30 Knights fees.

The c1200 ‘Old’ Mulgrave Castle

Some 700 metres to the east of Fossard’s construction can be found ‘Old Mulgrave Castle’. This site was developed by Robert de Turnham c1200 and remained in use, at least in part, until 1647.

A plateau with steep ridges to it’s sides

The new site was chosen for it’s defensive strength. de Turnham’s castle was built on a broad ridge with steep sides to several sides. To the north lay the valley of Sandsend Beck, to the south was the valley of East Row Beck. The ridge upon which most of the site was developed is 7 metres above the land around it. The sides of the ridge were strengthened with castle walls being built into the steep sides of the ridge which extended around all sides of the castle, including the sides where the incline was not as steep.

Walls of Mulgrave Castle

With the walls incorporating the ridges and extending above the level of the plateau they provided a considerable deterrent. Beyong these walls was a moat to the north, south and eastern sides which measures 5 to 14 metres in width. The western side incorporated the gatehouse and defended approach to the castle. The gatehouse incorporated two towers and was entered via a 100 metre long ‘hollow way’ which had raised banks to either side.

The Keep at Mulgrave

The keep lay within the central part of the plateau. It was a square keep with four towers. It stood some 5 metres high. large parts of the keep remain intact, though it was in part destroyed following a siege in the English Civil Wars. Other buildings to service the castle are known to have existed within the confines of the walled ridge top and beyond the moat. The foundations of some of these buildings are visible to the naked eye.

Development of Mulgrave Castle in the 13-16th centuries

The castle was described as being ruinous early in the 14th century but the Keep is known to have been inhabited at later dates. For example, there are mullioned windows dating to the 16th century added to the Keep, and it was in use as England entered the civil wars of the 17th century. That it was ruionous in 1309 also seems unlikely as Buttresses on the Gatehouse are consistent with the type added to castles in the late 14th century. [Victoria County History].

John Leland described Mulgrave Castle in Itineraries:

stondith on apon a craggy hille: and on ech side of it is an hille far higher then that whereon the castelle stondith on. The north hille on the toppe of it hath certen stones communely caullid Waddes Grave, whom the people there say to have bene a gigant and owner of Mougreve.

Lords of Mulgrave Castle in the late Medieval era, including the Wars of the Roses

The Fossard family were replaced as Lords of Mulgrave by the de Mauley family.

13th century

Peter de Mauley was the first to hold Mulgrave after the Fossards. He died in 1221.

His son, also Peter [2] went to the Holy Land in 1241. His lands were taken into the king’s custody in the minority of his son.

In 1247 his son, Peter [3] paid homage and was later awarded grants of free warren in multiple demesnes in the area.

14th century

His heir was Peter [4] who was called to Parliament as baron of Mulgrave in 1295 but had inherited by 1279. Peter [4] died in or before August 1309.

Peter [5] was a supporter of Thomas Earl of Lancaster and received a royal pardon in 1313 for his support of the earl. He died in 1355. His wife then entered a convent and assigned her dower to her son in return for annual payments to her trustees.

Peter [6] died in 1382-83.

15th century

Peter [7] was the grandson and heir of Peter [6]. He was made a Knight Banneret at the coronation of King Henry IV. Peter [7] died in 1415 without issues.

When Peter’s [7] wife, Maud, died in 1428 the castle and Mulgrave estates passed in part to his sister Constance who was married to Sir John Bigod, and in part to his nephew, Sir John Salvin who was heir to Peter’s other sister, Elizabeth.

The inheritance was disputed in 1439. It was settled with Mulgrave being retained in its entirity by the Bigod family, with the Salvin’s receiving other parts of the de Mauley estates including Doncaster.

From Constance Bigod the estates and castle passed to her son, Sir Ralph Bigot, in 1450. Sir Ralph died in March 1461.

The Wars of the Roses and Mulgrave Castle

Sir Ralph Bigod was a Yorkist. He held commissions within Yorkshire, acting as Sheriff and undertaking other administrative roles. He along with his son fought in the 1461 campaigns against the Lancastrians. Both were killed fighting for King Edward IV at Towton.

This led to Sir Ralph’s grandson inheriting the estates, which were largely based around the Bigot landholdings at Settrington, near Malton Castle. The younger Sir Ralph Bigot was placed in the care of his uncle, John, Lord Scrope of Bolton. He had reached his majority by 1479 and was soon involved in affairs of regional administration. He became a member of Richard duke of Gloucester’s household and was knighted, in 1482, whilst participating in the Duke’s invasion of Scotland.

Sir Ralph [2] Bigod was clearly valued by Richard as duke of Gloucester and as King as he was appointed in December 1483 to lead investigations into treasons within the City of York in December 1483, then made Richard’s master of ordinance.

Following the victory of Henry Tudor at Bosworth, Sir Ralph [2] Bigot was soon integrated into the new arrangements for the governance of the north. Even though he had a long record of loyalty to Richard III, he was appointed as constable of Sheriff Hutton Castle, was noted as being a Knight of the King’s Body, as was among those called upon in 1487 to prepare the defences of the region against the invasion force led by John Earl of Lincoln that culminated in the Crown defeating Lambert Simnel’s army at Stoke Field.

His value to the Tudor regime continued, and is outlined in this article on the Richard III Society website. Warnike, R. Sir Ralph Bigod: A Loyal Servant to King Richard III [pdf file].

The Tudor era

Sir Ralph’s son died alongside him at Towton and so his heir was his grandson, Ralph [2]. Ralph was clearly a minor at the time of inheriting as his proof of age was not recorded until the 1479-80 legal year. He was knighted in 1482 and lived until 1515.

Sir Ralph [2], was succeeded by his grandson, Sir Francis Bigot. Sir Francis Bigot of Settrington was one of the lords who rose against King Henry VIII in the Pilgrimage of Grace. This led to his execution and posthumous attainder.

A Stately Home?

The Duchess of Buckingham commissioned a park and home to be built at Mulgrave. The earliest parts of this construction were in place by 1735. This park and home were then extended over the course of the 18th century. Laying approximately a mile away from ‘Old Mulgrave Castle’ it sits on a prominent ridge overlooking the valleys through which Sandsend Beck and East Row Beck flow [a Beck is another name for a Stream/ Creek]. John Soane extended the home in the 1780’s, making the central structure larger and adding side wings.

Additions to Mulgrave

The addition of towers and turrets to make the home look like a romantasised castle were undertaken by William Atkinson. These were added firstly in 1805, with further beautification of the building in 1815-16. In the early 19th century a screen wall was built between the promary residential buildings and outlaying buildings such as the 1787 stable block.

Mulgrave Castle Links

Historic England – Official Listing of the medieval enclosure castle at Mulgrave.

Historic England – Official Listing of the 18-19th century development of the last of the Mulgrave Castle sites. For which the screening wall and other additions have a separate listing which can be found here.

Gatehouse Gazetteer – provides an overview of the history of all three Mulgrave Castle sites along with links and suggested further reading.

Heritage Gateway – brief summary of the history of the 3 sites along with a selection of recommended sources.

Featured Image

Mulgrave Castle. Photograph is Copyright Paul Buckingham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. Via Geograph.