John O' Gaunt's Castle
| John O' Gaunt's Castle | |
|
Yorkshire | |
|---|---|
 Remains of John O' Gaunt's Castle | |
| Type: | Hunting lodge |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SE219545 |
| Location: | 53°59’10"N, 1°40’3"W |
| History | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | Bare ruins |
| Owned by: | Duchy of Lancaster |
John O'Gaunt's Castle was a royal hunting lodge in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Its ruins are now to be found near Harrogate.
The castle was considered to be the hunting lodge of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, who was Lord of the Manor of Knaresborough for twenty-eight years until 1399.
King Edward III had building works in progress here in 1334. In 1372 he granted it, along with Knaresborough to his son John of Gaunt, from whom it gained its name.
The castle is a sceduled ancient monument.[1]
Description
The hunting lodge was a stone tower built atop on a square foundation. A ditch six feet wide surrounded the castle.
The castle was strongly sited on the end of a spur at Haverah Park, is a ditched platform of 115 feet by 100 feet with a curtain wall and a gatehouse, with a bridge over the moat. Within are buried footings of a central tower, 50 feet square, and one wall which probably formed part of a range. It was situated within the royal lordship of Knaresborough.
The lodge also had a chapel. The roof was of lead.
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1020950: Mediæval royal hunting lodge known as John of Gaunt's Castle, immediately north west of Haverah Park Top (Scheduled ancient monument entry)