Aldborough Castle
| Aldborough Castle | |
|---|---|
| Aldborough, North Yorkshire, England | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Motte and bailey / ringwork |
| Owner | Private land (near English Heritage site) |
| Open to the public | Not directly (earthworks visible from path) |
| Condition | Earthworks only |
| Location | |
.svg.png)  Aldborough Castle Location in North Yorkshire | |
| Area | Approx. 0.5 hectares |
| Site history | |
| Built | 11th or 12th century (probable) |
| Materials | Timber (no stone remains) |
| Events | Possibly referenced in a 1115 charter |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Stuteville family (1175–1205) |
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Aldborough Castle was a medieval earthwork fortification located in Aldborough, North Yorkshire. The remains of the structure, primarily a circular mound known as Studforth Hill, are situated within the boundaries of the former Roman town of Isurium Brigantum.[1]
Origins
A royal charter from around 1115 mentions a castello de Aldeburgo granted to the monks of St. Martin of Albemarle. However, this may refer instead to Skipsea Castle, as there is no archaeological or documentary evidence of a substantial stone structure at Aldborough. The remains are interpreted as a timber motte or ringwork castle likely dating from the late 11th or early 12th century.[2]
Decline and abandonment
Following the return of the estate to the Crown, there are no further references to fortification or occupation at the site. Archaeological assessments indicate the absence of masonry, and only earthworks remain.[2]
Earthworks
The surviving remains consist of a circular mound known as Studforth Hill, measuring approximately 61 metres in diameter and surrounded by a scarp. It is classified as either a motte or a ringwork.[3] The site lies just outside the southern boundary of the former Roman town. The modern Ordnance Survey grid reference is SE 4065 6670.[3]
Roman context
The earthwork was constructed within the area of the Roman town of Isurium Brigantum, which served as the administrative centre of the Brigantes tribe during the Roman period. Archaeological evidence indicates the presence of a Roman amphitheatre near Studforth Hill, suggesting that the Norman fortification may have reused part of the earlier Roman landscape.[1]
References
- ^ a b "History of Aldborough Roman Site". English Heritage. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Aldbrough Castle". Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Studforth Hill". Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- Levitt, Paul C. Yorkshire's Secret Castles: A Concise Guide & Companion. Grub Street Publishers, 2017. ISBN 9781526706225
- Salter, M. The Castles and Tower Houses of Yorkshire. Folly Publications, 2001.
