Scarborough Castle

• 1130s: William le Gros, Count of Aumâle, later Earl of York in 1138, began construction on the castle.
• 1150s: King Henry II takes the throne, and Scarborough Castle was placed back into the hands of royalty.
• 1201-1212: King John enhances Scarborough Castle through repairs and additions.
• 1216: King Henry III renovated the castle and built additions, allowing it to become one of England’s greatest royal castles at the time.
• 1275: King Edward I used Scarborough Castle as a residence. He also kept his prisoners on the castle grounds.
• 1308: The preeminent Percy family take over the castle and continue to hold it within the family for the next 40 years.
• 1484: Richard III is the last monarch to reside within the castle walls.
• 1557: Thomas Stafford held the castle for 3 days in a revolt against Queen Mary.
• 1642: Sir Hugh Cholmley held the castle for the Crown, but unexpectedly rebelled. His cousin, Captain Bushell took the castle, but quickly surrendered it back to Cholmley. Cholmley surrendered the castle to Parliamentarian forces in 1645.
• 1650s: Prisoners resided in the castle during the 1650s, including George Fox.

General Layout

Scarborough Castle is a mediaeval castle dating back to the 12th century. It is constructed of limestone and sandstone. Due to its location at the top of a 92 metre (302 ft) cliff,, it had the protection of the natural elements, including the North Sea. The castle featured various stone defences (including multiple towers), an outer and inner bailey (which included several wards), and a keep.

Original Layout

The western side of Scarborough Castle was the only side that required manual defence, as the cliffs and sea provided enough protection on all other sides. This area was protected by two ditches and a 210 metre (689 ft) long curtain wall. Along the wall sat 12 towers where archers would defend the castle gateway.

There were two drawbridges that led visitors across the double-ditch and into the gatehouse. The gateway sat just below the castle keep. This entrance included a barbican with two towers to protect that gateway and originally held a portcullis.

Outer Bailey

Scarborough Castle’s outer bailey is separated from the inner bailey by a stone wall and ditch. There were also two defended gates between them.

During the Middle Ages, Scarborough Castle featured a 47 metre (100 ft) long building which accommodated royal visitors. This structure held a hall and private chamber that included various luxuries, such as a fireplace, pantry, kitchen, and food stores.

King John’s Chamber Block included several areas, including “King’s Hall.” This hall sat at the southern corner of the castle grounds. It was a two-storey building of royal apartments that used 12th century masonry and a classic mediaeval layout.

The Queen’s Tower sat in the stone wall near the King’s Chamber Block. It featured latrines, a porch, and windows overlooking the North Sea. For its time, it was quite a luxurious residence.

Inner Bailey

The inner bailey featured solid stone towers. These towers were unlike the hollow ones on the south side of the rocky ridge.

In these inner wards sat various buildings made of timber. There were shops for blacksmiths, weaponry, armour, and food stores. The castle keep was also situated in the inner bailey. For water, castle occupants could draw from the 46 metre (151 ft) deep well. The inner bailey of the castle operated much like a modern day marketplace.

The Master Gunner’s House also sat within the inner bailey, though it wasn’t erected until the 18th century. The Master Gunner was the person who served in the defensive towers built for canons.

At the edge of the cliffs, a stone staircase led to a stone building that once served as a command post.

Keep 

The keep, also known as the Great Tower, was a massive building standing over 31 metres (100 ft) tall with walls up to 4.6 metres (15 ft) in thickness. It held three-storeys and featured buttresses across the front, which are support stones that provided additional defence.

On the outside of the keep, there were four levels of windows. Inside were magnificent decorative designs in each corner. The first floor included the Great Hall where guests ate, celebrated, gathered, and slept. A hearth was used in this area for warmth. The second and third floors served as sleeping quarters and other chambers, and each was divided into two separate rooms. The basement of the keep was used for storage.

Modern Layout

Today, Scarborough Castle’s curtain wall is in ruins; only the area overlooking the town remains intact. Additionally, the old drawbridges no longer exist (though there are some signs of them) and the current bridge to the gateway is made of stone.

The barbican has been altered numerous times over the centuries. The portcullis and its original grooves have long since been removed.

In the outer bailey, visitors can see the foundation of the long building where royal guests once roamed. They can also observe the remnants of a kitchen, brewery, and bakery in King John’s Chambers (this area served as a barracks in the 18th century).

Several windows of the Queen’s Tower have been filled in.

The castle keep has suffered extreme damage. Once standing over 31 metres (100 feet) tall, the keep now stands approximately 27 metres (89 feet). The forebuilding leading into the keep is in ruins and the walls that once divided the interior rooms have collapsed.

Ruins of the ancient Roman Signal Station are visible from the edge of the rocky ridge, along with an old Anglo-Saxon church.