Harewood Castle

Harewood Castle is a large ruined tower house on the west side of Harrogate Road near Harewood. It was built in the mid-14th century by William de Alburgh, who obtained a license to crenellate in 1366. The castle is constructed of large dressed blocks of locally-quarried millstone grit and lacks its roof.

The building is rectangular on plan with corner projections, forming a single self-contained keep-like structure. The north-east angle contains the entrance. An oblong range is attached beyond on the north side, housing the kitchen. The main block rises as a 2-storey hall-range with a 3-storey service-range, while the south-east and south-west projections form 4-storey towers rising over 100 feet high above the main block roof. Other projections formerly carried towers as well.

The east entrance front comprises 5 bays. The 5th bay is a projecting tower with a pointed-arched doorway featuring a chamfered surround. At 3rd-floor level above is the remains of a traceried window to the chapel, flanked by heraldic shields bearing the coats of arms of Aldburgh and of Edward Balliol, the former puppet King of Scotland whom Alburgh had served. Above this is set an inscription in high relief reading "VAT SAL BE SAL" (WHAT SHALL BE SHALL). The flanking bays contain chamfered cross-mullioned windows, with one surviving complete with mullions. The first 2 bays project as a wing with 2 bays of arrow slits, one lighting the stair. The rear of the hall range has 3 bays of former cross-windows with a narrow chamfered light set between the first 2 windows to light the internal buffet. The right-hand return shows the northern service range, built on a steep slope in 3 diminishing stages with a chamfered band carried around 3 sides and scattered fenestration.

The interior planning reflects a sophisticated approach to medieval domestic arrangement. The entrance is defended by 2 pairs of doors and a portcullis, the groove for which remains. It leads directly to the former screen's passage at the north end of the hall. The upper end features a raised curbstone for a dais set with the fireplace in the south wall, which lacks its surround. The hall windows are raised to a high level, with seats in their reveals approached by short flights of steps cut in the wall thickness. These windows have segmental-arched heads. Stone wall benches run along the side walls of the main body. The principal feature is an elaborate recess on the west wall and dais, with a richly-cusped arch, crocketed ogee gable, and small back window—almost certainly a buffet or sideboard for displaying plate. Large corbels formerly supported the floor to the solar above. Weathering for the steep pitched roof is visible on the north and south walls. The south wall shows joist holes for a gallery approximately 10 feet above the solar floor, with a plain fireplace below and another mostly destroyed on the east wall.

At the north end of the hall is a centrally-placed arched doorway to an unheated room, probably the buttery. Opposite the entrance is an arched doorway to a lobby leading to the kitchen, possibly serving as a servery, with a mural stair cut in the west wall descending to the cellar or basement. The basement retains remains of a barrel vault with large ribs. Above, the kitchen contains 2 large fireplaces and an oven. In the tower over the entrance is a portcullis chamber with the chapel above it, accessed from the solar and displaying heraldic shields on its walls. The towers contain one small room on each floor, mostly provided with fireplaces, garde-robes, and wall cupboards.

The castle has undergone little structural alteration since its construction and, despite its ruined condition, represents probably the finest example in Yorkshire of a 14th-century fortified tower house. Its primary historical interest lies as an example of medieval domestic planning rather than military architecture.

Edward Balliol, King of Scotland, is reputed to have taken refuge here when driven from his kingdom. It later became the home of the Redmaynes and Rythers. The castle was known to be inhabited in 1630 but was derelict by 1656 when it was sold to Sir John Cutler. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.