Bolton Castle is a spectacular mediaeval fortress, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
It was built in 1399 by Richard le Scrope, 1st Lord Scrope of Bolton and Lord Chancellor of England.
During the English Civil War Bolton was a royalist stronghold, and was besieged and fell to Cromwell in 1645.
The castle is externally three-quarters complete and internally about a third; it is one of the best preserved castles remaining in private ownership.
Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned in Bolton for 6 months after being transferred from Carlisle Castle
It cost just over £12,000 pounds, a considerable sum at this time.
It was very sophisticated for its time, having private apartments with large fire-places and chimneys, en-suite garde-robes and plumbing which was sti...
It hat 8 apartments along with the required servant staff
It is currently under restoration work...
...and we watched masons repair the roof....
..on the day we were there
The castle itself looks out over the beautiful dales of North Yorkshire, however the landscape did not always look as it does today. Where now there a...
Don enjoying the view
Another great November day in Yorkshire
We headed out across the Moors on our drive to Tan Hill later that afternoon
Bolton Castle is not too far from Aysgarth Falls
The castle is alot larger than you first realize and we spent most of the afternoon wandering around
There are five floors, sparsely furnished with tableaux depicting castle life in the 15th century.
More furniture and decorations are added all the time, and it has been neat to see it over the years
While Mary was 'imprisoned' at Bolton she had 51 personal servants! This was her bedroom.
I think it was cold even with this large fireplace
