Kilton
Medieval Castle
&
Kilton Village
intro | the
castle | gallery | reports
further
information
In the medieval period Kilton was part of the
Parish of Skelton which lies on the north-east
fringe of the North York Moors. Skelton was the
seat of the Brus family who were largely responsible
for the plantations and clearances which gave
the medieval landscape in the area its character.
The major local industry was milling, mills
being noted at Kilton in 1323 and 1344. A large
19th
century mill with its outbuildings still stands
on Kilton Beck and may occupy much the same
location as its medieval predecessor, although
it is no
longer a working mill. The landscape of Kilton has seen at least three
different re-organisations. Until the 12th century
there would have been a pattern of scattered
farmsteads. Then, following the Norman Conquest,
a castle was constructed by the de Kilton family
who were leased the land by the Bruses.
Next came the
creation of a large village at Kilton, the earthworks
of which are still visible.
A farmstead was built at Stank House which
also survives as earthworks. These settlements
had
shrunk and decayed by the end of the medieval
period.
In the 18th century a large estate village
was created at Kilton of which nothing survives,
while in the 19th century, model farmsteads
were
built at Kilton and Stank House.
The ruined castle at Kilton stands on a promontory
overlooking the steep valley of Kilton Beck.
There is a precipitous drop to the south and
access to the castle was via a narrow neck of
land to the west.
The first documentary reference to Kilton
Castle dates to 1265 when a chantry was granted to
the chapel there. The castle itself seems to
have
had a period of major use of little more than
150 years. By 1344 it had, apparently, been
abandoned.
Read more on Kilton Castle
intro | the
castle | gallery | reports
further
information |
