History Middleham

middleham castle

the first known settlement @ middleham during roman era. ixth legion of roman army conquered york in 69 ad , moved north. branch road great north road passed through middleham roman fort @ bainbridge. near middleham, romans built guard station control traffic on river ure.

william s hill remaining earthworks of motte-and-bailey castle alan rufus built.

before norman conquest lands in area controlled gilpatrick. in 1069, william conqueror granted land around middleham breton double-second cousin alan rufus built wooden motte-and-bailey castle above town. time of domesday inquest in 1086, alan had given castle brother ribald. earthworks still visible @ william s hill . alan built castle @ richmond.

the castle dominates town, middleham castle, started in 1190. nevilles, earls of westmorland, acquired through marriage female descendant of ribald in 13th century. called windsor of north . castle in possession of richard neville, 16th earl of warwick when cousin richard, duke of gloucester (the future richard iii ) came there learn skills of knighthood in 1462. during wars of roses, both edward iv , henry vi held prisoner here. richard, duke of gloucester became master of castle in 1471 after warwick s death @ battle of barnet. richard used castle political base administered north brother edward iv. richard married warwick s daughter, anne neville, in 1472. middleham castle son edward born (c. 1473) , died in april 1484. richard iii died in august 1485 in battle of bosworth. last reigning king of england die in battle.

at time of richard iii, middleham bustling market town , important political centre. 1389 lord of middleham manor received grant crown hold weekly market in town , yearly fair on feast of st alkelda virgin. town built around 2 marketplaces, larger, lower market dominated mediaeval cross topped modern iron cross in celtic style. upper, or swine market, centres around remains of 15th-century market cross , line of steps. @ 1 end of market cross worn effigy of animal reclining , @ other there may have been moulded capital.

most buildings in old part of middleham built after 1600, though old rectory has mediaeval elements incorporated it. in 1607 documented middleham important enough have royal court, , residents of forest of wensleydale fell under jurisdiction. accession of richard iii until charles sold manor city of london in 1628, middleham , surrounding lands part of crown estates. in 1661 city of london sold middleham manor thomas wood of littleton, , has remained in private hands until today. in 1915 yearly livestock market 1 of important in north, though weekly market had fallen disuse. today livestock market has moved leyburn.