More information : SD 50054511. Greenhalgh Castle (NR) (remains of) (NAT) (1) Greenhalgh Castle was built in 1490. The original structure was of rectangular form, with probably four towers, surrounded by a moat. In 1645 the castle was made untenable and never re-built. (2) The remains of the castle consist of a tower about 7.5m. square and standing to a height of approximately 8.0m. It is situated on a knoll which has been scarped to give a nearly flat top and steep sides. On the east are traces of a ditch. The interior of the tower and the immediate surrounds to NE and SE are strewn with fallen masonry. See photographs. (3) Surveyed at 1:2500. (4) Condition unchanged. (5)
SD 5006 4510. Greenhalgh Castle, cultivation terraces SE of the castle, and site of Greenhalgh manor house. Scheduled RSM No 27678. The upstanding remains of the castle comprise the SW tower (of what was originally a square keep with towers at each corner) c.7.5m square, up to 10m high with walls averaging 1.6m thick. There are traces of an original entrance at the E corner and arrow slits with splayed openings are placed in the W and N corners and midway along the NW side. Traces of others are visible in the SW and SE sides and in the S corner. In the NE side there is a fireplace and at first floor level remains of windows. Whilst there are no upstanding remains of the other three corner towers, on all sides of the knoll's summit apart from the SW there are traces of a rubble bank up to 4m wide and 0.8m high, which is interpreted as the foundation wall of the main block. On the SE slope of the knoll there are a number of well preserved agricultural terraces associated with the castle.
In the 14th and 15th centuries the manor or estate which had its headquarters at Greenhalgh belonged to the Lord of Wyresdale, but it was given to Thomas Stanley, first Earl of Derby, as a thank-offering by Henry VII for his support at the battles of Bosworth (1485) and Stoke (1487). In 1490 the earl received permission to fortify his manor house by constructing the castle, a square tower with additional towers at each corner. The monument is of unusual form with elements of both tower keep and quadrangular castles, and as such it may owe much to the quadrangular building tradition common during the 15th century. It is unlikely the Earls of Derby resided at the castle, indeed custody of the castle was given to Thurstan Tyldesley and then Sir Richard Shireburne during the mid 16th century. During the Civil War the castle was held for the king by men loyal to the Earl of Derby, but was not besieged until 1645 when the garrison surrendered. Thereafter the timber was removed, the walls breached and the castle rendered untenable. (6)
Listed by Cathcart King. (7) |