Danby Castle, Ainthorpe, Coast to Coast
Historical and Educational Articles for Lion Inn to Grosmont
Approaching Danby Castle and farm from the south
Danby Castle, Ainthorpe, Coast to Coast
The remains of Danby Castle are located in Castle Lane, a little south of the associated Duck Bridge, about 2 miles south east of Ainthorpe. The Fryup Dales are to the east and Danby Rigg to the south west. The River Esk drifts just 1/4 mile north of the Castle on its way from Danby to Lealholm.
Danby Castle is quadrangular and built of stone, which means that it is strongly fortified. The walls of the Castle surround a rectangular courtyard. The outer walls comprise a defensive line, strengthened by the added presence of four defensive corner towers. To the south of the Castle is a steep scarp. The Castle remains are substantial and of the three remaining towers two stand to at least second storey height.
Danby Castle was constructed between 1300 and 1302 and was built to replace the castle at Castleton, which is believed to have been destroyed by fire in the 14th century. In the 16th century John Neville, the third Baron Latimer, married Catherine Parr and their matrimonial home was based at Danby Castle. Catherine Parr later became the 6th wife of King Henry VIII.
Parts of the Castle were altered in the 19th century to accommodate its use as a farm building within the adjoining Danby Castle Farm.
Danby Castle and Danby Farm
Approaching Danby Castle from the south, the Castle is set against the north rise of Danby Rigg, a little below Castle Intake Plantation which spreads up the Rigg's rising dome. The Plantation is thinly stretched, and on its far side are the listed Danby Rigg Cairnfields, Cross Dykes and Ring Cairn, all within 1/2 mile of Danby Castle.
Danby Castle Danby Lane
Danby Castle has a Grade I Listing with Historic England. The Castle is partly ruinous. The design is rectangular with the walls surrounding an inner court. Three of the diagonally projecting corner towers remain standing. On the west side of the Castle, in place of the lost tower, is now a farmyard and farm buildings built into one of the Castle's curtain walls.
Danby Castle Intake Plantation
The background to the Castle, when viewed from the north, is Castle Intake Plantation, a sparsely arched belt of woodland that carpets the gentle incline to the moorland beyond. The moorland is in fact Danby Rigg, a long finger of moorland stretching south to the general moorland mass of the Cleveland Hills.
Danby Castle Danby Barn
The South Range of the Castle was converted to a manorial courthouse and the former private chamber was divided into a court room and a jury room The court room is now used as a weddng ceremony room.
Duck Bridge Danby
Duck Bridge, named after George Duck of Danby, used to be known as Danby Castle Bridge. it is half a kilometer south of Danby Castle. The Bridge is steeply hump-backed and spans the River Esk. It is a 1717 rebuild by the said George Duck, replacing a 14th century Bridge. A ford lies to its north side and there are stepping stones to its south side.
River Esk from Duck Bridge
Duck Bridge spans the River Esk on Castle Lane near Danby Castle. The Bridge is a post-medieval pack horse bridge with a Grade II Listing. On its north, outward facing arch, is the Coat of Arms of the Neville family, dated 1386, which was removed from the older bridge. John Neville married Catherine Parr prior to her marriage to King Henry VIII, and they dwelt together at Danby Castle, thus forming a cornnection between the Bridge and Damby Castle.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
