Pickering Castle

Pickering Castle stands on a steep cliff above the Vale of Pickering in North Yorkshire. Built first in timber by the Normans soon after 1069, it later became a stone fortification with a shell keep and a chapel. The inner ward dates from 1180–1187, while the outer ward and curtain wall with three towers were added between 1323 and 1326. A deep ditch ran outside the wall and another inside the outer ward to slow attackers. The castle’s west side drops sharply down the cliff, giving a natural defence. The castle played a key part in controlling northern England after the Harrying of the North. Edward II strengthened its defences in 1322 when Scottish raids threatened the region. Richard II was held prisoner here in 1399 before being moved to Pontefract. Unlike many castles, Pickering survived the Wars of the Roses and the Civil War largely intact, though Cromwell’s forces breached the west wall in the 17th century. Visitors walk through the inner ward where the shell keep once stood and see the reconstructed chapel. The outer ward still shows parts of the curtain wall and three towers. Three small mounds to the west mark where Cromwell’s cannons were placed. The site is managed by English Heritage and offers clear views across the vale from the cliff edge.