Snape Castle

Snape Castle is a semi-fortified manor house in the village of Snape, North Yorkshire. It stands in a valley three miles south of Bedale and ten miles north of Ripon. The building dates from the early 15th century and was planned around a courtyard measuring 140 feet north to south and 180 feet west to east. The surrounding land was marshy and prone to flooding, which influenced its defensive layout. It is now a private residence and a Grade I listed building. The castle is worth visiting for its links to notable historical figures. Cecily Neville and Queen Anne once lived here, connecting it to Richard III. In 1537, a mob took Katherine Parr and her children hostage during the Pilgrimage of Grace. The castle was later rebuilt in the 16th century by Sir Thomas Cecil, who added towers more for show than defence. The west wall features an Elizabethan chimney dated 1587. Visitors find a Grade I listed structure with Perpendicular windows and a chapel dedicated to St Mary. The chapel once had a painted ceiling by Antonio Verrio, though damp destroyed it by 1725. A memorial in the chapel honours those from Snape who died in the First World War. The castle retains its original character despite later renovations.