Bolton Castle

In the late 14th century Lord Scrope, Richard II's Chancellor, was given a licence to crenellate his manor house in Wensleydale.

To build his castle Lord Scrope employed John Lewyn, a master mason, who had also worked on the great castles of Dunstanburgh and Raby. He built an impressive fortress in the shape of a rectangle with strong square towers at each corner.

The only entrance into the courtyard was through a vaulted passage guarded at each end by a portcullis and defended by a guardhouse. Every door leading into the courtyard had a its own portcullis. Local stone was used for the construction with more expensive freestone from slightly further away used for the decorative arches over some doors and windows.

The castle was besieged by Cromwell's troops during the Civil War. After more than a year the castle was finally taken by the Parliamentarians in 1645.

Today, although ruined, the castle still looks impressive from the valley below.