the earthworks thrown up by Espec were considerably strengthened by Robert de Roos, c. 1200, when he replaced the timber defences of the inner ward by works in masonry, for the width of the ditches is altogether unusual for a castle of the time of Henry I. The Pipe Rolls show that there was great working at castle ditches in the reign of John; probably in order to widen them in consequence of the longer range of the new siege engines.

The date of the foundation of Helmsley Castle is probably contemporary with that of the beautiful and famous. abbey of Rievaulx, i.e. the year 1131. Walter Espec died, probably at an advanced age, in 1153, and the great timber castle of Helmsley was, in 1154-the year with which we are dealing in possession of the Roos family through the marriage of Peter de Roos1 with Espec's sister, Adeline.

Description. Helmsley Blackamoor, as it is called in the old records, is one of the brightest and pleasantest of our old-world North Riding townlets. It has an air of comfort, cleanliness, and rural prosperity, with its broad sunny market-place, its quaint old houses, its monument to the second Lord Feversham, its ancient cross, and its modernised church-internally the ideal of what a country church should be. Although we possess no concentric stone castle in the North Riding we have, in the earthworks which mark the site of the Espec fortress, clear proof that in the days of King John such a fortress existed in timber.

The formidable earth-and-timber castle of Walter Espec consisted of a level main or inner ward, covering some 1 acres, and measuring some 330 feet from north-west to south-east by about 220 feet from north-east to south-west. There is no trace of the former existence of a motte, indeed, considering the nature and extent of the outer defences, the inner ward itself was a citadel of very great strength. Here, probably at

probability, Roman work and nothing else. They are not typically medieval, no doubt; but as they are also not typically Roman, I see no reason for calling them Roman. You may remember the rhyme

Was man nicht deklinieren kann, Das sehe man als Neutrum an. Many antiquaries follow this rule; it they cannot explain a thing as mediaval, they call it Roman. Yet all the while it may well be some form of mediaval which they arbitrarily rule out because it is unusual.

There is a somewhat similar puzzle at

Castle Acre in Norfolk. Here a part of the earthworks has been called Roman because it does not look like mediæval work. But no Roman remains have been found in that part, or indeed within a mile or two, and the earthworks themselves have no specifically Roman features.

In all such cases it seems to me best either to allow for the possibility that the work is medieval or to admit that there is no real reason known to assign it to any age. At Helmsley I should incline to the first alternative."

1 Arms:-" Gules, three water bougets argent."

the southern side of the enclosure and occupying roughly the site of the existing modernised stone "palace," would be placed the timber great hall, solar, etc., of the founder of Rievaulx. Whether the enclosure, as at Scarborough, contained a timber keep in addition to the wooden great hall will probably never be known. The ward was completely surrounded by a formidable ditch, some 100 feet in width on its northern side, and about 35 feet in depth. Traces of the banquette on which the timber defences were placed and which was subsequently crowned by works in masonry-still remain at the south-east end, and also at the northern angle of the ward.

Beyond the deep ditch encircling the inner ward is a high counterscarp or ridge, some feet lower than the ward by which it was completely dominated. This ridge, undoubtedly, once bore a strong timber stockade forming the outer palisade of enceinte. It was widened out into broad platforms on the south-east, north-west, and south. The great south-east platform measures some 220 feet in length from north-north-east to south-south-west, and is about 60 feet in width at its broadest or central part. Here would be a very strongly stockaded barbican or outwork, probably provided with flanking timber turrets, and containing the main entrance to the fortress. A timber bridge would give access, across the great ditch, to the main ward. The north-west platform measures some 110 feet in length by 40 feet in width at its broadest part. Here, too, would be a strongly stockaded barbican or outwork, connected by wooden bridges with both the inner or main ward and the north-western or outer ward. The platform on the south measures some 80 feet in length by about 40 feet in width, and probably bore a long rectangular timber tower flanking and defending this side of the, fortress. We have, therefore, a castle within a castle, just such a structure as we get in masonry at Beaumaris. One is inclined to think that these additional defences were mainly added by Robert de Roos towards the close of the twelfth or during the first decade of the thirteenth century.

The southern side of the outer defences was guarded by another formidable ditch with a counterscarp which, although not now complete, would appear to have been widened out, and which, almost certainly, bore additional timber defences. To the south-east of the main barbican was a ditch-defended outwork of some size, at the north-east angle of which, flanking

the outer entrance to the barbican, was a platform measuring some 65 feet in length from north-east to south-west, which probably bore a small timber outwork separated from the barbican by a deep ditch.

The outer ward lay to the north-west of the main ward, with which it was connected by means of the smaller of the two barbicans. It is rectangular in form, and was defended by a ditch with scarp and counterscarp banks of varying width. It measures some 300 feet square, and was probably added by Robert de Roos, c. 1200.

HOD, NEAR THIRSK.

That the Mowbrays erected a timber castle at Hod, or Hood Grange, near Thirsk, would appear to be proved by an entry in the Close Rolls for 12181; but up to the present the writer has been unable to find the slightest trace of this fortress.

HUTTON CONYERS.

History. This castle owes its origin to Alan Niger, Earl of Richmond, one of the most powerful supporters of King Stephen against the Empress. The Earl took advantage of the terrible anarchy which prevailed during the civil wars to erect, c. 1136, the castle of Hutton Conyers, for the sole purpose

1 The writer is indebted to Mrs. Armitage for the following extract from the Close Rolls, viz.:-Mandatum est Vicecomiti Ebor. quod si castrum de Hod, quod in parte prostratum et in parte exstans est, erectum fuit et firmatum in feodo de Novo Burgo post guerram motam inter Dom. J. regem patrem Dom. H. Regis et Barones Angliae, ut dicitur, tunc castram predictum sine dilatione funditus prosterni et dirui faciat" (Close Rolls, i, 366, 1218). There would also appear to be a reference to the castle in the Mon. Angl., i, 411, viz.:-" Ex doco Rogerii de Mubrai unam mansuram ad pontem Fosse in excambium propter Hod quam tenet Richardus faber." In the Progenies Moubraiorum, Newburgh Priory, vi, 320, a document not earlier than the time of Henry VIII, we are told that Roger de Mowbray, son of Nigel d'Albini, lived at the "castellum de Hode,' to which place he brought a lion from the Holy Land! William, son of Nigel de Moubray, previous to 1222, is said to have confirmed to Byland all donations in the vill of " Angoteby subtus Hode Castrum." The onetime existence of a castle at Hode is, however, well authenticated by the above extract from the Close Rolls

3

In the Licences to Crenellate (Patent Rolls, 48 Henry III), permission is given to John D'Eyvill, in 1257, to crenellate La Hode. The writer is informed by Mr. W. T. Lancaster, F.S.A., that a tradition exists to the effect that Hode was the headquarters of a notable band of robbers in the time of Edward II. Rymer tells us that a noted robber, Sir Gosceline Deyville," who was of good family, was the leader of a band of robbers in this district in the time of Edward II, and that he attacked and rifled the Bishop's Palace at Northallerton. He was finally captured by the Sheriff and hanged at York. Stowe says "Sir Goscelin Deivile and his brother, Robert, with 200 men in the habit of friars, did many notable robberies; they spoiled the Bishop of Durham's palaces, leaving nothing in them but bare walls, for which they were afterwards hanged at York." Leland, who wrote temp. Henry VIII, tells us, in his reference to this district, that Sir Gotselyn Daivil, a partisan of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, was finally executed for robbery.

2 Arms:-Chequy or and azure, a canton ermine.

3 See also Catterick and Yafforth.

of exacting tribute from the inhabitants of the city of Ripon, and of maltreating and extorting ransom from any persons who were unfortunate enough to fall into the clutches of the garrison of the fortress. When order was restored in or about 1154, this robber den would share the same fate as befell Yafforth, being dismantled and destroyed by order of Henry II.

Description. The earthworks which mark the site of this castle have been much mutilated, probably when the stronghold was destroyed by Henry II. It was clearly useless, when pulling down one of these "adulterine fortresses, to destroy only the timber palisading and buildings, for, as we have already seen at Castle Leavington, it would have been a simple matter to restockade them at any time.2 It is possible the people of Ripon would destroy the earthworks if this were not done by the king. Apparently the castle consisted of a square central platform-after the style of that of Helmsley-defended by outworks and a series of concentric ditches and banks, but the mutilation is so extensive that it is practically impossible to say what was the original design. There would, however, appear to have been two oblong courts on the north and east, and there are traces of an ancient road leading to the entrance at the south-east angle of the eastern enclosure.

KILDALE.

History. At the time of the Survey, Kildale was in the king's hands, but very shortly afterwards it came into the possession of Robert de Brus, whose caput was probably then the neighbouring fortress of Castleton. At a comparatively early date, certainly as early as the reign of Henry 1,5 this manor, with other property in Cleveland, was subinfeuded by Robert de Brus to a certain Ernald de Percy, and a castle

1 John of Hexham in Symeon of Durham, Rolls Ser., ii, 308.

2 We are told (Suger's Gesta Ludovici Regis, ed. Molinier, p. 79) that when, in 1112, Louis VI captured Hugh de Puiset's castle (Puiset-Eure et Loire), he not only levelled the earthworks but dug up the wells (effosis puteis).

3 D.B., fo. 331b, col. 1. Terra Tainorum Regis. In Childale habuit Ligulf vi carucatas terre ad geldum. Terra ad iii carucas. Ibi habet Orme i carucatam et viii bordarios cum ii carucis. Ibi presbiter et ecclesia. Duas leucas longa et i lata.

T.R.E. ualebat xvi solidos. Modo xx solidos. Kildale would seem, in some way or other, to have

escaped the terrible devastation wrought by the Normans upon the neighbouring

manors.

D.B., fo. 332b, col. I. Fief of Robert de Brus. In Childale, 6 car.

The foundation charter of Guisborough Priory states that Robert de Brus, Agnes, his wife, and Adam, his son and heir, confirm, among other grants made by their vassals," the Church of Ormesby, with all its appurtenances, and the mill of Caldecotes, with the land adjacent, the gift of Ernald de Percy," and we know, from the Percy Feodary, that the Percies of Kildale held Ormesby under the Brus in the reign of Henry I.

.

was probably founded here early in the reign of Stephen. Until the earthworks are examined, it is impossible to say when and to what extent the castle developed into a stone fortress, but that it did so develop is very probable, although one is inclined to think that it eventually evolved more on the lines of a fortified manor - house than on those of a feudal castle. For many generations it was held by the Percies of Kildale, whose names are frequently met with in the Chartulary of the neighbouring priory of Guisborough. John de Percy, of Kildale, who died towards the close of the fifteenth century, left four daughters and coheiresses, who sold the property to their relative, Henry, Lord Percy, by deeds executed in 1494, 1502, and 1503. The castle, which was probably then more of a manorhouse than a fortress, was evidently occasionally occupied by the Earls of Northumberland, but seems to have been finally abandoned in the Tudor period.

Description. The old stronghold of the Percies of Kildale-a purely timber structure at the time of the accession of Henry II --was charmingly situated, immediately to the west of the church (which was in existence long before the castle1), in a narrow, secluded, and beautiful moorland vale, snugly tucked away between the towering heights of Percy Cross and Kempswithen, not far from the source of the river Leven, and some 5 miles east of Stokesley. The motte is very much silted down and defaced, and now measures on the summit some 300 feet in length from east to west by about 200 feet in width from north to south. It is probable that, at some period during its occupation, it has been lowered, as was done at Whorlton. A modern farmstead now occupies the summit, and in part the motte is cut through by the railway. Mrs. Armitage says, in a letter to the writer, An old man whom I met there in 1902 said he had always been told the castle stood on the rising ground west of the church, at the east end of the knoll. He also said there used to be a well there, but that it dried up when the railway cutting was made. There is now a farmhouse and a clump of trees on the knoll. The ground falls all round, probably marking the site of the ditch." This ditch.

1 The Survey informs us that a church existed at Kildale in 1087, and that it was a pre-Conquest church is certain, for when the existing structure was rebuilt in 1868 under the superintendence of Mr. Fowler Jones, replacing a churchwardenised edifice rebuilt in 1714, some interesting Danish interments,

etc., were found, an account of which appears in Canon Atkinson's History of Cleveland, pp. 81-85. Built into the walls of the present porch are four large slabs with floriated crosses, two of which bear the famous five fusils in fess of the Percies.