Hornby Castle

Hornby Castle is a fortified manor house in the village of Hornby on the edge of Wensleydale in North Yorkshire. It stands between Bedale and Leyburn, surrounded by the Yorkshire Dales. The present building is the south range of a larger complex, most of which has been demolished. Originally built in the 14th century, it was rebuilt and remodelled in the 15th, 18th and 20th centuries. The castle is constructed of coursed sandstone rubble with lead and stone-slate roofs. The castle has a long history tied to notable families. It belonged to the St Quintin family until the late 14th century, when Margaret Quintin married John Conyers. In the 15th century, William Conyers, 1st Baron Conyers, largely rebuilt the castle but retained the 14th-century St Quintin’s Tower. The estate later passed to the Darcy family, who became the Earls of Holderness in 1682. During the English Civil War, the castle was taken by Colonel Ralph Assheton but was not destroyed. In the 1760s, John Carr of York rebuilt much of the surviving south range for the 4th Earl of Holderness. Today, the remaining property includes the south range and the castle grounds, which feature a deer park and a working farm. The castle itself is a private residence and not open to the public, though the gardens are accessible at certain times of the year. A 16th-century main doorway from the castle is preserved in the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. The grounds provide a peaceful setting within the Yorkshire Dales, offering views of the surrounding countryside. The castle’s history and architecture reflect its evolution over six centuries.