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Pickering Castle is a substantial motte and bailey fortification established in the late eleventh century in North Yorkshire, commanding strategic position on the northern edge of the Vale of Pickering. The castle comprises a prominent earthen mound surrounded by a substantial ditch, upon which was constructed a circular stone shell keep in the early thirteenth century, representing a significant architectural development of the original Norman foundation. The keep itself, roughly thirty metres in diameter, survives to a considerable height and demonstrates the transition from timber palisade to permanent masonry fortification characteristic of medieval military architecture. Additional thirteenth century stone structures, including domestic ranges and gateways, were built within the bailey, and the site underwent further modifications in subsequent centuries, though it was gradually abandoned in favour of residential accommodation by the sixteenth century.
Pickering Castle: 11th century motte and bailey castle and 13th century shell keep castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1009884. View the official record →
Pickering Castle is a substantial motte and bailey fortification established in the late eleventh century in North Yorkshire, commanding strategic position on the northern edge of the Vale of Pickering. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1009884.
Pickering Castle: 11th century motte and bailey castle and 13th century shell keep castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1009884.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Beacon Hill ringwork siege castle and Royal Observer Corps post (0.6 km), St Nicholas' medieval hospital 550m East of Brick Yard Farm (1.5 km), Round barrow 50m north east of Manor Farm (1.9 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in the UK — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Pickering Castle: 11th century motte and bailey castle and 13th century shell keep castle