Crayke Castle is located in the Yorkshire Wolds, in an area that until the 19th century was considered to be part of County Durham. At Crayke there are archaeological finds and some documentary records to show that the site has been of importance since the 7th century. Firstly, the site was home to a monastery built before the Norman Conquest whilst the site was held by the See of Durham. Secondly, a Motte and Bailey Castle was constructed at Crayke following the Norman Conquest. Thirdy, the site was then transformed into a tower house in the early to mid 15th century by order of Robert Neville, Bishop of Durham. The site remains a tower house from this period, though restoration and repair work have been required over the years. The castle is privately owned and not open to the public.

Monastic Beginnings

Crayke was held by the See of Durham from the 7th century until the 19th century. At Crayke a Monastery was built in the 7th century. The cemetry for the monastery occupied part of the hill upon which Crayke Castle was later built. The full extent of the size of the monastery that once occupied part of the area has not been established. Reports commissioned for English Heritage note some finds but as the focus of the survey was on the later constructions further investigation was not carried out.

Motte and Bailey Castle at Crayke

Following the Norman Conquest of England, Crayke continued to be held by the See of Durham. As a consequence of the ‘Harrying of the North’ the prominent hilltop location at Crayke was seen as an ideal site for the construction of a Motte and Bailey Castle. This castle was built in the late 11th century, though there are suggestions that defensive structures may have occupied the site prior to this. Earthworks marking the edge of the inner bailey can still be seen to this day. The inner bailey surrounded the crown of the hill, with the motte being place on the natural rock of the outcrop. Parts of the Norman Motte can be seen at the site just to the north of the 15th century tower.

15th Century Tower House at Crayke Castle

When Robert Neville was Bishop of Durham he chose to make improvements to Crayke Castle. Motte and Bailey structures had served their purose and by this time were outdated. With other local castles held by Bishop Neville’s family being upgraded both in terms of military strength and comfort, it was decided to apply similar to the structure at Crayke [See Raby Castle or Middleham Castle for examples of building work by Bishop Neville’s family]. Therefore a tower house was built in the 1440’s towards the peak of the hill, within the walls of the old inner bailey. The tower is not built at the highest point of the hill. Instead, its lower floors are built into the side of the slope. This meant that the lower floors were entered from one side whilst there was also a ground level entrance to the higher level on the other side of the castle. The tower is built roughly in an L shape and consists of 4 storeys with crenallations at the towers highest level. Some external stairs were in place at first for entry to the top two storeys. These have since been replaced by internal staircases.

Crayke Castle.

Crayke History Group – overview of the Castle history.

Heritage Gateway – sources and references.

Gatehouse Gazette – sources and records on Crayke Castle.

Historic England – Crayke Castle images

Crayke History – pdf history guide.

Featured Image

Crayke Castle by John Slater, CC BY-SA 2.0