Skipton Castle

Perfectly situated at the top of Skipton’s main street, it would be very hard to miss the Castle’s massive, stout twin towers. The Castle has an impressive and beautiful early Tudor Courtyard. On entering the Castle, facing the Gatehouse is the Castle Tower (formerly the Watchtower), which was the most important feature of the castle’s defences. Watch out for the Mason’s marks in the stonework within the Castle’s main entrance and Conduit Court. Initials or symbols were carved within these stone blocks to prove which stones had been dressed by them so they could be paid for their work.

Robert de Romille, a Norman Baron, had originally built a wooden fortress on this site (c1090) in protection from the Scots and in its day was perfect as a defence structure. The wooden fortress was replaced with the stone built Norman Castle that we witness today. The Castle was granted to the Clifford family in 1310 by Edward II, Robert Clifford was then appointed the First Lord of Skipton. The Castle became a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War and withstood a 3 year siege by the Roundheads (1642-45). In 1645 after the surrender Oliver Cromwell ordered the removal of the roofs. The Castle today is fully roofed and fully restored, which was organised by Lady Anne Clifford. Well worth a visit.