Castleton

The location of the Norman castle after which the village of Castleton is named is today occupied by the large house with the circular towers showing what would have been the castle’s commanding position overlooking the River Esk. It was a motte castle without a bailey or courtyard with a stone keep with walls 13′ thick according to Pevsner. It was built by Robert de Brus who was given the Lordship of Danby by William Rufus in c.1089. By the late 14th century the Lordship was in the hands of the Neville family and Danby castle was built after which Castleton seems to have been abandoned.