Middleham Castle A North Yorkshire Fortress Fit For A King

D0c.Col
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:43:27 +0000
Videos by Drone

Middleham Castle: A King's Childhood, a Prince's demise | English Heritage Gem Leyburn N.Yorkshire.

Another video from our recent North Yorkshire holiday. Wasn’t well when I edited it (we suffer for our art) so narrations a bit dodgy, sorry!!

Middleham Castle: Discover the dramatic history of Middleham Castle, one of North Yorkshire’s most impressive medieval fortresses — and the childhood home of King Richard III.

Hidden in plain sight at the heart of Middleham village, this huge stone ruin appears almost suddenly as you drive through the town. From above, its vast keep, twin courtyards, and defensive walls reveal the scale of a castle that once shaped the politics of England.

Built in the late 12th century by Robert Fitzrandolph, Middleham later became the powerful stronghold of Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick — better known as the Kingmaker. It was here that the young Richard, Duke of Gloucester, trained before rising to the throne as Richard III. The castle also served as the home of Richard, his wife Anne Neville, and their son Edward of Middleham.

After the Wars of the Roses and Richard III’s death in 1485, Middleham’s importance faded. Centuries of neglect reduced it to a ruin, but in 1930 it was gifted to the State and later taken into the care of English Heritage, who continue to preserve this remarkable site.

Join me as we explore Middleham Castle from the ground and from above, uncovering its architecture, its key historical moments, and the stories of the people who lived here.

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