Helmsley Castle
| Helmsley Castle | |
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| Helmsley, North Yorkshire | |
Helmsley Castle
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 Helmsley Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°14′21″N 1°03′56″W / 54.2391°N 1.0655°WCoordinates: 54°14′21″N 1°03′56″W / 54.2391°N 1.0655°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference SE6183 |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | English Heritage |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Demolished | English Civil War |
Helmsley Castle (also known anciently as Hamlake) is a medieval castle situated in the market town of Helmsley, within the North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire, England.
A castle, constructed in wood around 1120, was built by Walter l'Espec. The castle at Helmsley was only 1.9 miles (3 km) from Rievaulx Abbey and Walter l'Espec granted the land for the abbey. Aelred, who was the abbey's first novice master, was known to be involved in l'Espec's affairs (military and personally) and Helsmley was often used as a place of safety during periods of instability.
Walter was childless and on his death in 1154 the castle passed to his sister Adelina who had married Peter de Roos. In 1186 Robert de Ros, son of Everard de Ros, began work on converting the castle to stone. He built two main towers, the round corner towers and the main gateway on the south side of the castle. He died in 1227, granting the castle to his older son William who lived there from 1227 to 1258. The only change made to the castle during this time was the construction of the chapel in the courtyard. William's son, Robert, inherited the castle and was Lord of Helmsley from 1258 to 1285. He raised the east tower and built the new hall and kitchen, as well as strengthening the castle. He built a wall dividing the castle into north and south sides, with the southern half for the private use of the lord's family in the new hall and east tower, and the northern half containing the old hall to be used by the steward and other castle officials. William died in 1316.
Helmsley Castle remained in the possession of the de Roos family until 1478 when Edmund de Roos sold it to Richard, Duke of Gloucester who later became Richard III. Richard did nothing to the castle, staying instead at Middleham Castle. After Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth, Helmsley Castle was restored to Edmund de Roos by Henry VII.
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