Knaresborough Castle

Save Knaresborough Castle: Community Campaign Reaches Parliament

Loved by locals. Admired by visitors. At risk from neglect.
The campaign to protect and restore Knaresborough Castle has now reached UK Parliament, giving national voice to a cause that matters deeply to Knaresborough.

Why This Matters to You

If you’ve ever:

• Walked the castle paths with family or friends

• Stopped to admire the view across the River Nidd Gorge

• Attended an event or simply enjoyed a quiet moment on Castle Yard

…then this campaign affects your Knaresborough.

Years of underinvestment have left visible damage that now threatens public access, safety and the future of one of the town’s most iconic places.

What’s Happening Now

Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has formally presented a community petition to Parliament, backing a growing local call for action.

The petition is part of a community-led campaign spearheaded by Kathy Allday, supported by local councillors including Matt Walker and Hannah Gostlow, and signed by over 2,300 people who care about the castle’s future. Knaresborough Castle is a fantastic local landmark, but years of unacceptable neglect have left it in urgent need of care.”
— Tom Gordon MP

The Problems You Can See

Campaigners and residents have highlighted several urgent issues:

• Weeds in the castle walls causing cracks and stone erosion

• Uncontrolled tree growth blocking the famous Gorge views

• Unsafe and deteriorating paths and steps

• Moat views obscured by overgrowth

• Castle-generated income (including parking revenue) not transparently reinvested

Left unaddressed, these problems could eventually lead to restricted access or closure.

Who Is Responsible?

• North Yorkshire Council – responsible for the castle’s maintenance

• Duchy of Lancaster – key stakeholder in the land and heritage

The petition calls on both to work together on a fully funded, long-term restoration plan.

More Than a Castle

As councillor Hannah Gostlow explains:This castle isn’t just part of our heritage – it’s part of our everyday lives. It’s where we meet friends, walk our dogs and celebrate together.”

Knaresborough Castle is:

• A cornerstone of the local visitor economy

• A community space, not just a historic ruin

• One of the most photographed views in England

How You Can Get Involved

✔ Sign the petition and add your voice
✔ Share the campaign with friends and family
✔ Visit the castle and support the local economy
✔ Ask questions about how castle income is spent

Every action helps keep pressure on decision-makers.

Looking Ahead

With community backing, political support and the right investment, Knaresborough Castle can be:

• Properly conserved

• Safer and more accessible

• A lasting asset for residents and visitors alike

This is a chance to protect a place that defines Knaresborough.
The story of the castle is still being written – and the community is determined to be part of it.

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. Knaresborough Castle The History & facts below are those that I have researched on the internet and in libraries and hopefully correct, however, history sometimes differs in the views of different historians. Should you find any errors, anything I might have missed or indeed anything  I can include or research please email info@harrogateuk.co.uk

Knaresborough Castle: Yorkshire’s Most Dramatic Ruin

Perched on a 100-foot limestone crag above a tight loop of the River Nidd, Knaresborough Castle is one of England’s most breathtakingly sited strongholds. Though now a graceful ruin, for over 500 years it was a royal fortress, prison, court, and administrative centre of the Honour of Knaresborough – a vast estate that once stretched from the Tees to the Wharfe. Today it is North Yorkshire’s most visited historic site after York Minster and a place where ravens really do talk in broad Yorkshire.

Origins & the Norman Fortress (c. 1100–1200)

The castle’s story begins immediately after the Norman Conquest. Around 1100–1110, William the Conqueror granted the manor to the Flemish knight Serlo de Burgh. Serlo built a classic motte-and-bailey fortification on the natural limestone promontory, taking advantage of sheer cliffs on three sides. By the 1130s the wooden palisade had been replaced by stone curtain walls, and a document of 1130 records Henry I paying for “works at the castle of Knaresburgh”.

The castle rapidly became a favourite northern residence of the Plantagenet kings. King John visited at least twelve times between 1204 and 1216 and kept a large stud of hunting horses here. The underground sally port – a secret tunnel emerging at river level – dates from this period and is one of the best-preserved examples in Britain.

Murderers of Thomas Becket & Medieval Drama (1170–1318)

The castle’s darkest moment came in 1170 when Hugh de Morville, one of the four knights who murdered Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, fled north and took refuge here with his accomplices. The scandal rocked Europe, and the knights were excommunicated. Morville later gave land to found the nearby Trinitarian priory in penance.

In 1318 the castle withstood a siege during the rebellion of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, against Edward II. The garrison held out until relieved by royal forces. The 14th century also saw the murder of a priest in the market place below (1331) – an event so shocking that several townspeople were executed.

Royal Palace & Prison of Queens (1307–1569)

From 1307 the castle passed to the Duchy of Lancaster and became a royal palace in all but name. Four Scottish queens spent time here:

• Joan Beaufort (widow of James I)
• Mary of Gueldres (widow of James II)
• Margaret of Anjou (wife of Henry VI)
• Mary Queen of Scots – held briefly in 1568 en route to Bolton Castle after the Battle of Langside.

The East Gate, King’s Tower and Courthouse date largely from this 14th-century rebuilding and are the most substantial remains visible today.

Tudor Destruction (1536–1648)

The castle’s military career ended abruptly after the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion in 1536. Henry VIII ordered the fortress “slighted” – deliberately destroyed to prevent future rebellion. Gunpowder was used to blow up the great keep; the rubble mound is still visible inside the inner bailey. During the Civil War (1644–48) Parliamentarian troops finished the job, leaving only the Courthouse and King’s Tower intact.

From Ruin to Romantic Ruin (18th–19th centuries)

By the 1750s the castle had become a fashionable “romantic ruin”. Artists and early tourists flocked to sketch the ivy-clad walls against the dramatic gorge. The grounds were landscaped with winding paths and viewing platforms. In 1789 the Duchy of Lancaster leased the site to the public, and it has remained open ever since – making it one of the earliest historic sites in Britain to charge admission.

The Courthouse Museum & Victorian Restoration

The surviving 14th-century Courthouse was saved from collapse in the 1790s and converted into a museum in 1970. It houses one of England’s few remaining original Tudor courtrooms, complete with jury benches and prisoner dock. Displays cover the castle’s royal history, the murder of Thomas Becket’s assassins, and the Civil War slighting.

The Castle Ravens – A 21st-Century Legend

In 2000, to mark the Millennium, two ravens – Ravenelf and HM Raven Gabriel – were installed in the castle grounds. The birds were such a hit that Prince Charles (now King Charles III) personally granted permission for them to stay permanently, provided Harrogate Borough Council agreed. After a ten-year campaign, the ravens became official residents.

The current star is Raven Izabella, an African pied crow famous for speaking in a broad Yorkshire accent (“Hello!”, “What yer doin’?”, “Ey up!”). A video of her chatting went viral worldwide in 2018, appearing on BBC, CNN, and Japanese television. She has her own Facebook page with thousands of followers and is probably Britain’s most famous bird outside the Tower of London.

What to See Today – A Visitor’s Guide (2025)

• King’s Tower & East Gate – The most impressive standing remains (14th century).
• The Sally Port – Walk the secret underground tunnel to the river (open daily in summer).
• Tudor Courthouse Museum – Original 16th-century courtroom and exhibits.
• The Dungeon – Atmospheric underground prison with graffiti from Civil War prisoners.
• Castle Top & War Memorial – Panoramic views over the viaduct and Nidd Gorge.
• Raven Enclosure – Meet Izabella and her companions (feeding talks daily at 2 pm).
• Gardens & Bowling Green – Beautifully maintained grounds perfect for picnics.

Opening Times & Tickets (2025)

• Open daily 10 am – 5 pm (April–October), weekends only in winter.
• Adult £6.50, Child £3.50, Family £16 (includes Courthouse Museum).
• Combined ticket with Mother Shipton’s Cave available.

How to Get There

• 5-minute walk from Knaresborough railway station (hourly trains from York, Harrogate & Leeds).
• Free parking at Castle Yard (HG5 8AS) or Conyngham Hall car park.
• Fully accessible paths and lift to the upper grounds.

Why Knaresborough Castle is Special

Unlike many English castles reduced to mere earthworks, Knaresborough still dominates its landscape exactly as it did 900 years ago. The combination of dramatic clifftop setting, surviving medieval architecture, underground passages, a Tudor courtroom, and talking ravens with Yorkshire accents creates an experience found nowhere else in Britain.

Stand on the castle terrace at sunset, watch the railway viaduct glow gold across the gorge, and listen to Raven Izabella telling you “Ey up, love” in the broadest Yorkshire you’ll ever hear. Few places weave together royal history, violent rebellion, prophetic legend, and pure quirky charm quite like Knaresborough Castle.

Little Bird Made Markets will return to Knaresborough Castle in 2026, though exact dates are not yet confirmed.  These monthly artisan markets typically feature local crafts, food, and drink and have historically taken place on the first Saturday of each month, with the exception of January. You can stay updated on specific 2026 dates by following the official Little Bird Made social media accounts, such as their Facebook and Instagram pages, says the Little Bird Made Facebook page.

Knaresborough