Helmsley Burgus Enclosure

Has been described as a Possible Urban Defence

There are earthwork remains

NameHelmsley Burgus Enclosure
Alternative Names
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityNorth Yorkshire
1974 AuthorityNorth Yorkshire
Civil ParishHelmsley

The embanked enclosure to the north of the castle is suggested by King as a burgus enclosure of the castle. It is otherwise recorded as the outer bailey of the castle.

Gatehouse Comments

Only a small section of embankment remains and it it is not entirely obvious how much area was actually enclosed. It is certainly possibly that the original town was, or was intended to be, enclosed but it may be this was a much smaller enclosure solely for the use of the castle. As with many towns in Yorkshire the street names include a gate element (ie Castlegate, Bongate etc.) but these derive from the viking/danish gata meaning street and do not refer to possibly lost town gateways.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSE611837
Latitude54.2463188171387
Longitude-1.06517004966736
Eastings461100
Northings483700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 268
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 535

Journals

  • Creighton, Oliver, 2006, ''Castles of Communities': Medieval Town Defences in England; Wales and Gascony' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 75-86