Topcliffe Castle

Topcliffe Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortification located where the River Swale meets Cod Beck in Yorkshire. The site features earthen defensive banks, a moated enclosure, and scattered structural remains from its medieval period of occupation.

William of Percy founded the fortification in 1071, and it served as a seat for the Percy family for several centuries thereafter. The site was gradually abandoned during the 1300s as the family shifted their power base to other locations.

The site demonstrates how medieval communities used fortifications to assert control and protect their lands from rival powers. You can observe how the earthwork design reflects the military priorities of its time.

The archaeological remains are situated on private land and require permission from the landowner to visit. Contact local heritage organizations ahead of time to inquire about access possibilities and any organized study visits.

In 1489, Henry Percy, the 4th Earl of Northumberland, was killed during an uprising on the castle grounds over increased taxation. This event shows how the site remained involved in significant regional conflicts even in its final period of use.

Location: Topcliffe

Part of: Maiden Bower and Cock Lodge: a motte and bailey castle, moated site, windmill mound and associated linear outwork

GPS coordinates: 54.16918,-1.37349

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:23