Photographs of Hylton Castle

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Hylton Castle was originally an 11th century fortified manor house, built by Henry Hilton. The original building was made out of wood in the 11th Century but later rebuilt in stone between 1374 and 1420, adding a four storey keep-gatehouse and a separate chapel. The walls of the keep and the associated chapel of St Catherine of Alexandria show a fine display of medieval heraldic shields including Richard II's white hart badge and the coats of arms of the Hyltons, Percys, Greys, Eures, Lumleys and the Washingtons. In 18th century Baron John Hylton integrated the keep in the construction of an Italianate style mansion, redesigning the interior, inserting large windows and adding two crenellated wings. A century later, the wings were demolished and the interior and windows altered again. When the castle was given to the local authority they stripped the building and blocked the lower exits to make it safe from vandals.