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High Head Castle, Skelton
High Head Castle
Highhead Castle
civil parish:-   Skelton (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   castle (burnt out shell) 
coordinates:-   NY40284333 (?) 
1Km square:-   NY4043
10Km square:-   NY44

evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 38 4) 
placename:-  Highhead Castle
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.

evidence:-   probably old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  Highyate Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576, published 1579-1645.
image
Sax9NY44.jpg
Building with two towers, symbol for a castle.  "Highyate cast:"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   probably old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?) 
placename:-  Highyate Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Northumbria, Cumberlandia, et Dunelmensis Episcopatus, ie Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham etc, scale about 6.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, about 1595.
image
MER8CumC.jpg
"Highyate ca."
circle 
item:-  JandMN : 169
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Highyate Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by J Sudbury and George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP11NY44.jpg
"Highyate cast."
circle, building, tower 
item:-  private collection : 16
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Jansson 1646
placename:-  Highgate Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumbria and Westmoria, ie Cumberland and Westmorland, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Jansson, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1646.
image
JAN3NY44.jpg
"Highgate cast."
Buildings and tower with flag. 
item:-  JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   probably old map:- Sanson 1679
placename:-  Higbyate
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Ancien Royaume de Northumberland aujourdhuy Provinces de Nort, ie the Ancient Kingdom of Northumberland or the Northern Provinces, scale about 9.5 miles to 1 inch, by Nicholas Sanson, Paris, France, 1679.
image  click to enlarge
SAN2Cm.jpg
"Higbyate"
circle, building and tower, flag; town? 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.15
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Seller 1694 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Highgate Castle
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 12 miles to 1 inch, by John Seller, 1694.
image  click to enlarge
SEL9.jpg
"Highgate Cast."
circle; castle 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.89
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   probably old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Highgate Castle
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, 1695, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695-1715.
image
MD12NY44.jpg
"Highgate Castle"
Circle, building with two towers. 
item:-  JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Buck 1739
placename:-  High Head Castle
item:-  rent, a rose
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The North West View of High Head Castle, in the County of Cumberland, Skelton, Cumberland, drawn and engraved by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, published 1739.
image  click to enlarge
BU0207.jpg
printed, top  "THE NORTH-WEST VIEW OF HIGH-HEAD-CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND."
printed, bottom  "THIS castle which is founded upon a Rock, & the Court thereof is a natural Pavement, was possess'd in 18th Edw. III. by William le Engleys & in ye 48th. Year of ye same Kings Reign, by William Son of Radus Restwold, and was then holden of ye Crown in Capite by ye Service of paying thereto one Rose Yearly. Afterwards it came by Purchase to ye Family of ye Richmonds, in wch. it continued till ye 3d. Year of ye Reign of his late Majesty K. George, when ye last Male of that Family (Henry Richmond) died in his Bloom unmarried. His Mother Isabella was then married to Matthias Miller Esqr. her Second Husband, whom, as well as her former, She surviv'd without having Issue by him, & is ye present Proprietor & Occupier of this Castle. / Saml. &Nathl. Buck delin: et Sculp. Publish'd according to Act of Parliamt. March 26. 1739."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.67.7
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Badeslade 1742
placename:-  Highgate Castle
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, A Map of Cumberland North from London, scale about 11 miles to 1 inch, with descriptive text, by Thomas Badeslade, London, engraved and published by William Henry Toms, Union Court, Holborn, London, 1742.
image  click to enlarge
BD10.jpg
"Highgate C."
circle, italic lowercase text; village, hamlet or locality 
item:-  JandMN : 115
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   probably old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Highgate Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland Divided into their Respective Wards, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin et al, published by T Bowles, Robert Sayer, and John Bowles, London, 1760.
image
BO18NY34.jpg
"Highgate Cas."
circle and flag 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Highhead Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29 Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774.
image
D4NY44SW.jpg
"Highhead Castle / Mrs. Richmond"
large building; a castle, 
house, avenue of trees, church 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library

evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Highgate Castle
placename:-  Heathcot Castle
item:-  deer
source data:-   Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93.
image CL13P105, button  goto source
Page 105:-  "..."
"I do not find any ancient authors mention a castle here [Castlerigg], Speed, who speaks of twenty-five in Cumberland, hath found out every one I ever heard or knew of, except Kirkoswald; how that has escaped him I cannot tell. I shall here put down their names, and, as well as I can, their most ancient owners, and supposed founders."
"..."
image CL13P106, button  goto source
Page 106:-  "..."
"13. HIGHGATE, - Or Heathcot, where Richmond the King's Forester, (or hind,) lived. It is said by different authors that Edward the I. killed one hundred bucks in this forest in one day with his own hand."
"..."

evidence:-   probably old text:- Camden 1789
placename:-  Highyate Castle
source data:-   Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.
image CAM2P174, button  goto source
Page 174:-  "..."
"On the Caude ... is Highyate, a castle of the Richmonds, ..."

evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) 
placename:-  Highhed Castel
placename:-  Pela de Highhead
placename:-  Highhead, Pela de
source data:-   Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.
image CAM2P192, button  goto source
Page 192:-  "..."
""Hyghhed castel six or seven miles from Cairluel by south on the beck on Ivebek." The inquisitions of the reign of Edward III. call it Pela de Highhead, and on the attainder of Andrew de Harcla it was granted to the Dacres. It was bought by the Richmonds t. Henry VIII. and still belongs to them."

evidence:-   old map:- Ford 1839 map
placename:-  High Head Castle
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, and by R Groombridge, 5 Paternoster Row, London, 3rd edn 1843.
image
FD02NY34.jpg
"High Head Ca."
item:-  JandMN : 100.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   text:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Heyvehead
item:-  licence to crenellate
source data:-   Book, The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
Licence to crenellate granted by Edward III; 6 October 1342:-  "Willielmus Lengleys dilectus valletus noster ... manerium suum de Heyvehead."

evidence:-   old print:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Highhead Castle
item:-  gateway
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Highhead Castle, the Gateway, Skelton, Cumberland, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
image  click to enlarge
CW0140.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.210 of The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen. 
printed at bottom:-  "HIGHHEAD CASTLE The Gateway."
item:-  Armitt Library : A782.40
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   text:- Jackson 1990
placename:-  Heyheved tower
placename:-  Hehed castle
placename:-  Heighheved castle
placename:-  Hyghett castle
placename:-  Highened castle
placename:-  Highed castle
placename:-  Highyate castle
placename:-  Hegatcastle
placename:-  Highgate castle
source data:-  

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Arches, The
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"THE ARCHES / / / SKELTON / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 73950 / NY4022043373"

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"GARDEN GATE, PIERS AND WALL IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WING OF HIGH HEAD CASTLE / / / SKELTON / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 73947 / NY4028043369"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Gate piers and wall in front of High Head Castle. 1744-7. Red sandstone ashlar with calciferous sandstone dressings. Central square rusticated gate piers with front paired engaged fluted columns and rear pilastered niches, under shaped caps. Flanking low walls with moulded flat coping, ending at either side in further rusticated square piers. The winged figures which formerly surmounted the central piers have been moved to another location."

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"HIGH HEAD CASTLE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WING / / / SKELTON / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 73946 / NY4027943334"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Country house in ruins, built on the site of a medieval castle. 1744-7, probably by James Gibbs for the Brougham family, partly destroyed by fire 1956. Red sandstone ashlar with string course, eaves modillions, open balustraded parapet and V-jointed quoins. Roofless but with banded ashlar sandstone chimney stacks. 2 storeys, 11 bays. Projecting pedimented 3-bay centre, with carved ornament in pediment, has central door in alternate-block surround with entablature and pediment. Stone window architraves. Return and rear walls are partly in ruins. Interior completely gutted. See Transactions Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian &Archaeological Society, new series, xi, pp.379-384; for the attribution to James Gibbs see G. Beard, 'The Greater House in Cumbria', 1979, pp...... Derelict and unoccupied at the time of survey; owner's application to demolish refused in 1985."

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"TUDOR WING WEST OF HIGH HEAD CASTLE / / / SKELTON / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 73948 / NY4026543332"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Tudor wing of High Head Castle, partly incorporated in C18 wing, now in ruins. Mid C16 for the Richmond family with C19 and C20 alterations, partly destroyed by fire in 1956. Thick red sandstone rubble walls with eaves cornice and parapet; without roof. 2 storeys, 5 bays. The present facade, originally the rear, without doorways; the left open doorway is therefore C20; and 2 C19 doorways are now blocked to form windows. 4-light hollow-chamfered stone-mullioned windows, with rounded heads, under hoodmoulds; the small chamfered-surround windows are apparently C20 and ground-floor 2-light matching windows (in former doorways) are also C20. A right ground-floor window has been completely removed leaving an open arch, partly covered by a small ruined lean-to washhouse/outhouse which is probably C18 but on earlier foundations. The former facade was completely plastered over when the C18 wing was constructed and formed an internal dividing wall. Now the building is in ruins, the plaster falling off, revealing blocked 4-light chamfered windows and a panel of Richmond arms. A central staircase has been knocked through. The interior is partly filled with fallen rubble but retains some window seats and fireplace recesses. Whilst an integral part of the C18 Castle this was originally a free-standing building and should anything happen to the C18 wing, then this would revert to its original form and be the only visible remains of the medieval castle. See Transactions Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian &Archaeological Society, new series, xi, 379-384."

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"SERVANTS' WING NORTH WEST OF HIGH HEAD CASTLE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WING / / / SKELTON / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 73949 / NY4025943348"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Servants' wing for High Head Castle. Early C19. Dressed red sandstone with flush quoins, under graduated greenslate roof with coped gables and ball finials; banded red sandstone ashlar chimney stacks. 2 storeys, 4 bays. Sash windows with glazing bars in plain reveals. Right return wall has C20 door in plain opening. Left return wall has upper-floor round opening. Rear wall blank with central open pediment. Listed for group value with C18 wing of High Head Castle."

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"GATE PIERS BESIDE THE LODGE NORTH OF HIGH HEAD CASTLE / / / SKELTON / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 73952 / NY4012944046"

evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  High Head Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The North West View of High Gate Castle, ie High Head Castle, Skelton, Cumberland, about 1769.
image  click to enlarge
PR0186.jpg
Included in vol.3 p.43 of a set of castle pictures? 
printed at bottom:-  "The North West View of High Gate Castle, in the County of Cumberland."
printed at top left of page:-  "Vol.III pa.43."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.186
Image © see bottom of page

hearsay:-  
Ruined in a fire, 1956.

notes:-  
1317 pele replaced in 1340s by stone curtain wall and gateway; 16th century hall, all replaced by a mansion, 1740s; destroyed by fire 1956

Perriam, D R &Robinson, J: 1998: Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria: CWAAS:: ISBN 1 873124 23 6; plan and illustration

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