Aldbrough 'castle'

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameAldbrough 'castle'
Alternative NamesAldeburgo
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityEast Riding of Yorkshire
1974 AuthorityHumberside
Civil ParishAldbrough

Situation: The most likely site for the castle is a minor ridge-top to the north-west side of Aldbrough village, on the Withemwick Road where the place-name ‘Castle Hill’ appears on OS maps.

Description: No extant remains on the ground; documentary evidence only.

Documentation: The church and tithes of a castle at Aldborough, (de castello, de Aldeburgo), mentioned in a charter as being granted to the monks of St. Martins, Albermarle by King Stephen in 1115. (Creighton 1998)

The tradition that there was a castle at Aldbrough is based on a misreading of a charter of 1115, the castle referred to there being almost certainly that of Skipsea. Castle hill was named in the mid 19th century, and Castle Park, a housing estate recently built in 1991, continues the tradition (E.Y.C. iii, pp. 30-2; Poulson, Holderness, ii. 3, 5, 24). (VCH 2002)

Gatehouse Comments

Aldbrough is the supposed site of a castle. It is supposed to have been in existence in 1115 as a grant made by Stephen Earl of Albermarl to the monks of St Martin de Albermarl of tenths of the castle. The C11 Church, a saxon foundation, is at TA245387 and the site was the principle residence of the Powerful Saxon Thane Ulf. Reputed to have been washed out to see centuries ago. However a 'Castle Hill' place-name is shown 500m West of the church in a position which would be entirely usual for an early motte (TA238388). Has also been suggested that moat and earthworks at Bewick (Tup Hill - TA23293942) may be site but this is unlikely since Bewick is a distinct settlement from Aldbrough and was held by the de Melsas (Meaux) family. Given map reference for parish church.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTA245387
Latitude53.8299713134766
Longitude-0.111220002174377
Eastings524500
Northings438700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Kent, G.H.R., 2002, 'Middle division: Aldbrough' VCH Yorkshire: East Riding Vol. 7 online transcription
  • Ingham, Bernard, 2001, Bernard Ingham's Yorkshire Castles (Dalesman) p. 16
  • Bulmer, 1892, History and Directory of East Yorkshire p. 301
  • Sheahan, J.J., and Whellan, T., 1855, History and topography of the city of York, the Ainsty Wapentake and the East Riding of Yorkshire Vol. 1 p. 357
  • Poulson, G., 1841, The History and Antiquities of the Seigniory of Holderness Vol. 2 p. 3, 5 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Farrer, W. (ed), 1914-16, Early Yorkshire Charters Vol. 3 p. 30-3 no. 1304 online copy

Other

  • Creighton, O.H., 1998, Castles and Landscapes: An Archaeological Survey of Yorkshire and the East Midlands (PhD Thesis University of Leicester) p. 541 online copy