One of the lesser-known and less cared
for relics of Cleveland’s history is Kilton Castle, a crumbling spread of
masonry clinging to the side of the dene overlooking Kilton Beck a little to
the south-west of Loftus.
The stronghold, which is now
largely enveloped by greenery, was built in the late 12th century on
a rocky outcrop overlooking the valley below, being commissioned by the de
Kilton family on land leased from the famous de Brus (Bruce) family – and
probably preceded by a wooden affair. Immediately thereafter the land
thereabouts became more intensely worked, and a sizeable village (Kilton) began
developing nearby. Milling was the dominant industry, with records of such
activity surviving from the 1320s.
By the end of the 14th
century, however, the castle and village had been all but abandoned – yes, the
Black Death may have had a lot to do with it – and the fortress began its long
decline into ruin. Despite occasional attempts at partial restoration, come the
16th century it was long gone and as good as forgotten.
In the 18th century
another large village estate was built at Kilton, but this was soon dismantled
and replaced in the 19th century by a couple of large farmstead
estates which remain in use today.
Despite being Grade I listed, the
old castle receives little in the way of care and attention. The site occupies
a fair old area – c.100m x 30m – but after a 1990s survey and preservation plan
failed to stir anyone into action, nature began reclaiming the plot again at an
alarming rate.
More information (and a link to
some pictures) can be found here – though there’s
not much to see.
No comments:
Post a Comment