Middleham Castle: An ancient edifice in northern England dating from the 11th century.
This evening, I am focusing on Middleham Castle, located in Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England. This video clip was taken from atop the castle and places the building in context of the local landscape. Location is about forty-five miles NW of the city of York. Middleham Castle had its genesis after the Norman Conquest of England when, in 1069, land in the area was granted to Alan Rufus, a nephew of William the Conqueror. The first castle, a wooden motte-and-bailey structure- was built on a hill about 500 yards to the S.W. of the present castle, a site known as ‘William’s Hill’. The foundations of this castle are still visible. First Castle on William’s Hill The historical chronology after construction of the first castle was a s follows: By 1086 the first castle was in hands of Alan Rufus’s brother, Ribald. First castle abandoned in 12th century when the new castle was built centred on a massive stone keep and a bailey. Construction started around AD 1...