Kilton Castle was built on a promontry in the 12th century. Originally a timber construction, it was soon replaced by a stone castle. It has been suggested that the initial build was a rare enceintric design, ie a castle without a keep. However the stone build did include a keep. The castle was in regular use until the 15th century.

Kilton Castle

Kilton is in the historic county of the North Riding of Yorkshire, though it is now within the borders of Redcar and Cleveland. It is built on a promontory surrounded on three sides by very steep cliffs and on the fourth an ascent to the castles entrance was up another steep and easily defendable pathway. Therefore the castle required no moat on three sides, and was in a position of great natural strength.

The Early build

Kilton was held from the Count of Mortain when the castle was first constructed. Its first incarnation was of timber, most probably comprising a palisade fence with a variety of buildings within the area. No Motte would have been required on this raised site, so buildings would have been functional ones rather than incorporating additional defensive structures at that point. This early castle was built c1135-40.

Stone Build

The stone castle at Kilton was built in the last decade of the 12th century, probably by the Kilton Family. The curtain wall was made of ashlar blocks and had a height which ranged from 1.5 metres to 5 metres. The side of the castle that incorporated the Gatehouse had a 40 metre long moat dug which was 3.5 metres deep and up to 16 metres wide. The curtain wall incorporated several towers which varied in height and strength depending on which side of the castle they were on. Those facing the entry were the largest and strongest.

Inside the curtain wall the castle was divided into an inner and outer ward. Within the inner ward was a building believed to be the main defensive structure of the castle. Likely to be a tower, it measured 11.5 metres by 8.6 metres with walls 2.6 metres thick. It is interpreted as having stood to a height of around 8.5 metres.

Documents from 1265 show that a chapel existed within the castle, as permission was granted for a chantry to be added to it at that time.

14th and 15th century developments at Kilton Castle

In the 14th century a domestic range was added into the inner ward. This probably indicates the changing function of the site, into one that was primarily a home rather than a fortress. Later work saw a new hall being built within the outer ward of the castle and all of the domestic buildings being moved into the inner ward.

Notes on the site and it’s interpretation

Most of the information above comes from official sources such as the ones in the links below. Other write ups about the castle suggest that it was in disrepair and largely unused by 1400. Some of those, such as Wikipedia, do reference their assertions. However those references are often to non specialist accounts or sources that I don’t find particularly reliable. As such I have disregarded them and stuck to the information provided by highly accredited experts on medieval buildings, such as archaeologists and the specialists who research and write up scheduling reports.

 

Kilton Castle Video Tour

 

 

Kilton Castle Links

Historic England – Official Listing although there is another listing for the same site, here.

British History Online – Victoria County History entry for the area: Kilton has the same ownership as the Manor of Kirkleatham.

Newcastle University – curated images of Kilton Castle

Gatehouse Gazetteer – Information about Kilton Castle

Hidden Teeside – Kilton Castle

Featured Image

By Stuffed cat – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia