Wilton Castle in the North Riding of York [now in Cleveland and Redcar] was developed by Roger de Bulmer. He was granted a licence to crenellate his home in Wilton in 1330. The castle was later remodelled into a comfortable home, with remains of the original fortification being visible adjacent to the large Elizabethan home that superceded it.

Roger de Bulmer’s Castle at Wilton

The Castle that Roger de Bulmer constructed was a quadrangluar structure. Made from Sandstone, rubble and ashlar, it had corner towers and a series of curtain walls. Some of these walls and towers remain visible today. Though in ruins, some still extend to 30 feet in height.

The main entrance to the castle was via a Gatehouse that is believed to have been housed in the south western tower. This tower was demolished in the 16th century when the castle was superceded by a more luxiourious Elizabethan style mansion on the site.

The Bulmer’s of Wilton Castle in the 15th Century

Perhaps the best known of the Bulmer family of the 15th century is Sir William Bulmer. Born in 1465, he nherited his father’s estates in 1496. Sir William Bulmer fought in the Scottish Campaigns of 1497, dring which he was knighted. He then served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire and was in attendance at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520.

His father, Sir Ralph Bulmer had been born in 1445. Sir Ralph was appointed to positions following the victory of Henry Tudor. This was at a time when the number of officials in York was being reduced, so being brought in suggests that Sir Ralph had no particular affiliation to Richard III in his time as King, or any close affinity to him as Duke of Gloucester and Lord of the North.

 

Wilton Castle Links

Historic England – Official Listing of the site. With a further entry here.

Heritage Gateway – Description of the site with a selection of suggested sources.

Gatehouse Gazetteer – Description and suggested sources about the castle.

Featured Image

Wilton Castle [a later version]. By Paul Buckingham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia.