Richmond Castle was built between 1071 and 1089. The Castle's stone Keep dates to the 12th century. It is 100 feet high. The Keep was built by Conan the Little, the Duke of Brittany. The ground floor is vaulted. The stairs rising to floors above are straight as opposed to the traditional spiral staircases of medieval castles.

English Heritage, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, have united to conserve the 19th century cell block installed in Richmond Castle. The intention is to preserve the graffiti which has been etched into the cell walls. This includes the discovery of stories associated with the graffiti, and involves many local volunteers.

In the 1850's Richmond Caslte was restored, having been left derelict for centuries. The Cell Block was added during the restoration and became the HQ of the North York Militia. The best known graffiti was drawn by conscientious objectors from WW1.

Robin Hood's Tower, set in the eastern curtain wall of Richmond Castle, is thought to have been the prison where a former king of Scotland was detained, namely William the Lion. Looking towards the tower from the Keep, the Gold Hole Tower is also visible, assuming the south east quadrant of the Castle. Another tower lies between the two latter towers, but its ruinous condition has caused it to collapse outward.

The Gold Hole Tower is located on the south east perimeter of Richmond Castle, overlooking the Cockpit Garden. The tower looks down on the River Swale and the Green Bridge. This is one of the 3 square towers built along the east curtain wall. A curtain wall is one that encompasses the castle. All the main domestic buildings were located within and against this wall.

Gold Hole Tower links the east curtain wall to the south curtain wall and Scolland's Hall. This tower continues to stand at its original height.

Scollard's Hall was the hub of Richmond Castle, where social, political, adminstrative and legal matters were dealt with. Further, this was a Great Hall, and Great Halls were primarily used for feasting to demonstrate the extent of the owner's wealth. Scollard's Hall stands against the South Curtain Wall.

This image is a depiction by English Heritage of how Scollard's Hall would have appeared in the 14th century. The depiction was taken from a time soon after an upgrade to the Hall including a chapel and rich accommodation (on the left of the image). The hall was heated by a fire set on a stone hearth on the first floor.

Water was vital to run the castle, and was required not just for drinking; the groom needed water for the horses; the ewerer needed water to wash the guest's hands before eating; the brewer needed it to bake bread; the cook needed it for preparing food. It was also needed for washing clothes. The well was usually covered to prevent contamination.

The Cockpit Garden, located outside of the east curtain wall of Richmond Castle, was created in 2000, designed by Neil Swanson. 16 yew trees in the upper terrace of the garden represented the 16 conscientious objectors held prisoner here during WW1. There is a mix of wild and cultivated flowers in the garden.

Looking over the south wall of Richmond Castle the River Swale is seen sprinting silently beneath the Green Bridge.

Coast to Coast Trail Guide

"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.