- Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle is a 12th Centurycite web| url = http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/scarborough%20castle.htm| title = Scarborough Castle| accessmonthday = Jan 10| accessyear = 2007| work = The Heritage Trail] fortress on the
North Sea coast ofNorth Yorkshire ,England . The Castle is situated on rocky headland overlooking the town of Scarborough. Its most recognisable feature is the ruinedkeep , built in the 1160s by Henry II, which is clearly visible from the bay below and offshore.History
The Castle is built on triangular headland some 300 ft (91 m) above sea level. As a naturally defended location, there is evidence of prior settlement and fortification on the sitecite web | url = http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=conProperty.381 | title = Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire | accessmonthday = Jan 10 | accessyear = 2007 | publisher = English Heritage] , including the archaeological remains of a Roman signal station.
The present medieval castle was founded by William le Gros, in the 1130scite web | url = http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/scarborough/scarborough.php | title = Scarborough Castle, Yorkshire | accessmonthday = Jan 10 | accessyear = 2007 | publisher = Castlexplorer] . His constructions included a gate tower (where the keep now stands), curtain wall and a chapel.
Ownership of the castle was seized by Henry II, upon his accession to the throne of England in 1154. Henry extended and further fortified the castle, replacing the gate tower with the square, three-storey keep whose ruins still stand at the top of the promontory. Further additions were made to the structure by Kings John and Henry III.
In 1312,
Piers Gaveston fled to the castle, which was then besieged for a fortnight by rebel barons. The siege ended only when Gaveston surrendered himself.The Castle twice came under siege during the
First English Civil War , eventually falling to the Parliamentarian forces onJuly 25 1645 . Scarborough and its castle changed hands seven times between Royalists and Parliamentarians during the the three stages of theEnglish Civil War . So as to prevent the Castle being used again as a Royalist stronghold Parliament ordered the demolition of the Keep.In the 17th and 18th centuries the castle was used as a prison before becoming a military barracks.
On
16 December 1914 , during the First World War, Scarborough came under naval bombardment by the German warshipsSMS Derfflinger andSMS Von der Tann . The castle was severely damaged by the hail of 500 shells directed at it and the town.Present day
Scarborough Castle is currently managed by
English Heritage , which took over the site in 1984. A visitors' centre provides admission to all extant remains, and includes an exhibition of artefacts from the site and viewing platforms. There is also an audio tour available.On
17 September 2005 , the castle hosted Rock In The Castle, an all-day music festival, headlined byThe Wildhearts , which also includedTerrorvision andHanoi Rocks .The castle was renovated in 1985.
References
External links
* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=conProperty.381 Official web page] – from the English Heritage website
* [http://www.scarboroughcastle.co.uk/ Scarborough Castle] – unofficial web page
* [http://kinemage.biochem.duke.edu/~panther/ Scarborough Castle] – a medieval history project website, by Claudia J. Richardson. Contains photographs, maps and a detailed history of the Castle.
*
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