Photographs of Middleham Castle

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After the Norman Conquest, in 1069, the land around Middleham was given to Alan Rufus, a nephew of William the Conqueror. Rufus built a wooden motte-and-bailey castle, 500 yards to the south-west of where the present castle stands, on a site known as William's Hill. Alan Rufus also built nearby Richmond Castle. The construction of the present castle began around 1170 by Robert Fitzrandolph during the reign of Henry II when he built the keep and original bailey. The keep, one of the largest in England, had twelve foot thick walls and three floors. It contained a great chamber, large kitchen, chapel, dovecot, cellars and the living rooms of the lord of Middleham. At each end of the keep's vaulted basement there were two wells (which can still be seen today). The 13th century curtain walls formed an enclosure around 250 feet on each side. In the 14th and 15th century the garrison quarters, stables and stores were housed within these walls.