Pickering Castle is situated on the north side of the town of Pickering, at the southern edge of the North York Moors.
It has a long history, with the first castle on the site being built around 1069AD as part of the efforts of William the Conqueror to impose his control over the north of England.
The original castle was built of timber, but from the early 1200s a start was made on rebuilding it in stone, with the whole castle rebuilt by 1326AD.
To the north of the castle lay a large forest, which was reserved for royal hunting. Many medieval kings visited Pickering Castle to take advantage of the excellent hunting. Deer and wild boar could be hunted in the forest with hounds, and smaller game with hawks and falcons. To maintain the hunting, the king employed foresters and park-keepers. In 1322, Edward II established a stud of about fifty horses in the castle.
Slowly, from this time a process of decay began, so that by the time of the English Civil War the castle could not be used in the conflict, in contrast to nearby Helmsley Castle.
The ruins were taken into the care of the Office of Works in 1926, and are now in the care of English Heritage.
This shot shows part of the curtain wall, and the upper part of Rosamund's Tower.
magnificent ruins and lighting with an interesting history
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Rosamund's Tower was named after the ill-fated mistress of Henry II, said to have been poisoned by his jealous wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.
This tower, along with neighbouring Diate Hill Tower are both said to be haunted.
Ian