Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
The Early Castle: Walter Espec (1120-1154) - Coggle Diagram
The Early Castle: Walter Espec (1120-1154)
Key People
Walter Espec
Held many royal positions
Royal Justiciar
High Sheriff of Yorkshire (from 1138)
Granted land by Henry I in 1122
Built the castle as centre of his northern estates
Used wealth to found a number of abbeys
Kirkham Abbey
Rievaulx Abbey
"Voice like a trumpet", "limbs of unparalleled size" - Aelred
Changes to Physical Features
Built in wood
Stood on rocky ridge
Cut off with earth ramparts and ditches
Probably had 2 rectangular baileys protected by ditch, divided into two by wall and ditch
Footing of wall survive under West Tower towards 13th Century Chapel
Ramparts probably topped with timber palisade
Gateway to north
Part of outer wall of chamber block may date back to this time
Probably had no central mound as main stronghold in centre
Southwest and southeast sides enclosed as private parkland for Lord to use to hunt
Closest area used for hunting called La Haye
Site Evidence
Remains of double ditch earthworks
Basic footprint of castle (on top of rocky outcrop)
Were two baileys divided by ditch and wall - part of wall remains under West Tower
Ditch ran from where the West Tower and East Tower are now
Source evidence from Aelred's sermon and description of Espec - "immensely tall"
Use and Purpose
Main domestic residence for Lord (Walter Espec)
Dominated village of Helmsley
Acted as Lord of the Manor
Administered justice to local area
Espec entertained himself and guests with hunting in surrounding lands
Links to National Events
Espec was an important knight
Served Henry I and King Stephen
Comparisons to Other Sites
No central mound unlike typical Norman castles (e.g. Pickering Castle)
Double ditch earthworks very atypical
Pickering
Built earlier
Two baileys and motte
Alnwick
Built 1096
Motte and bailey
12th Century - captured by King David I (1136)
Scarborough
Earlier history
Fortified tower by 4th Century
Roman remains (signalling station)
Founded by William le Gros in 1130s