Peveril Castle

Peveril Castle stands on a limestone outcrop above Castleton in the Peak District. Built soon after the Norman Conquest, it was the stronghold of the Peveril barony and the first stone castle recorded in Derbyshire. The ruins overlook the Hope Valley and Cave Dale, with Mam Tor to the west and the Roman fort of Navio three kilometres east. Its position controlled a valley rich in lead and long used as a route. The castle’s history is tied to royal power. William Peveril founded it before 1086, and Henry II visited three times, once hosting Malcolm IV of Scotland. During the 1173–74 revolt, the garrison grew from three men to twenty knights. Later, John of Gaunt stripped materials for his own use, hastening its decay. From the 14th century it belonged to the Duchy of Lancaster and was already ruinous by 1609. Visitors walk among grass-grown foundations and a small square keep. The site offers wide views over the valley and distant hills. English Heritage maintains the scheduled monument and Grade I listed remains. The nearby village of Castleton preserves the castle’s medieval setting within a national park.