Yarlsber, Ingleton

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameYarlsber, Ingleton
Alternative Names
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityNorth Yorkshire
1974 AuthorityNorth Yorkshire
Civil ParishIngleton

Possible site of a motte. (PastScape ref. King, 1983)

Mr. H. M. White of Hill House, Burton-in-Lonsdale, and Mr. J. C. Walker of Glenholme, Ingleton, are undertaking explorations of a series of ancient earthworks and remains around Ingleborough. For some months past they have been at work upon a mound at Yarlsber, Ingleton, and the well-defined erection at the old baronial village of Burton-in-Lonsdale known as Castle Hill. At Ingleton the finds have comprised a roughly cobbled pavement, prevailing everywhere, with flint chips and what might be termed arrowheads-in-the-making. A coarse black glass-like substance was also unearthed. No traces of bronze or metal were discovered. The earthwork strongly suggested the same type of workmanship as was observed at the Castle Hill at Burton-in-Lonsdale, save that the "citadel" at Yarlsber was less distinct. (TCWAAS, 1903)

Gatehouse Comments

This is Yarlsber Camp which White considered to have 'much in common, and may conceivably have been erected at the same period' as Burton in Lonsdale Castle Hill (The Antiquary, 1905). However, the obvious manorial centre is Ingleton 500m NW and this site appears to have no medieval strategic or symbolic significance. Yarlsber Camp is scheduled and is recorded in PastScape as 'Probable Iron Age defended enclosure surviving as an earthwork.' King used the term 'possible' for sites which he considered doubtful but there can be little doubt this is an Iron Age site with no medieval use. The only real question is what White meant by 'citadel' and how much his excavation damaged this feature.

- 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 ReferenceSD709726
Latitude54.1485786437988
Longitude-2.4457700252533
Eastings370970
Northings472610
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image

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Books

  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 532 (possible)
  • Challis, A.J. and Harding, D.W., 1975, Later Prehistory Trent to Tyne (British Archaeological Reports British Series 20.2) p. 52
  • Armitage and Montgomerie, 1912, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Yorkshire Vol. 2 p. 18

Journals

  • Raistrick, A., 1938-9, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 34 p. 125
  • White, H.M., 1905, 'Excavations in Castle Hill, Burton in Lonsdale' The Antiquary Vol. 41 p. 411, 417 online copy
  • 1905, 'Proceedings' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 5 p. 283 online copy