Loftus Castle Cliff

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are no visible remains

NameLoftus Castle Cliff
Alternative NamesLofthouse
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityRedcar & Cleveland
1974 AuthorityCleveland
Civil ParishLoftus

A mound, possibly a ringwork, at Loftus was destroyed in 1892. (PastScape)

A Castle Cliff placename is recorded in the VCH as an ancient placename (Chan. Inq. p.m.).

Gatehouse Comments

There was a castle placename and an earthwork of some form at Loftus. The castle placename may refer to the manorial centre rather than a military fortified building although such manorial centres often did have some defences. The tenurial history is that Loftus was sub-tenanted from the Earl of Chester (and later the Percy's) but by 1278 the manor house had been granted to Gisborough Priory. This would have stopped any possibility of the small ringwork castle developing into a stone castle. Gatehouse has not yet been able to locate this site precisely. Possibly within the grounds of Loftus Hall which seem to have been developed since the 1890's. This would certainly be the most likely place for the medieval manorial centre. The given map reference is for the parish church which lies immediately East of the site of Loftus Hall.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ721181
Latitude54.5531387329102
Longitude-0.885370016098022
Eastings472190
Northings518110
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Jackson, M.J., 1996, Castles of Durham and Cleveland (Carlisle) p. 40
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 532 (possible)
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1923, 'Parishes: Loftus' VCH Yorkshire: North Riding Vol. 2 p. 385-88 online transcription

Primary Sources

  • Calendar of inquisitions post mortem and other analogous documents preserved in the Public Record Office [2nd series: 1485-1509] (3 vols; London, 1898-1955) cccciii, 93.
  • Brown, W. (ed.), 1894, Cartularium prioratus de Gyseburne. Ebor. Dioeceseos ordinis S. Augustini. Vol. II (Surtees Society 89) p. 156–7 online copy
  • Feet of Fines for the county of York 6 Edw. I, no. 34