Ruins of Wressle Castle
RUINS OF WRESSLE CASTLE, BREIGHTON ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1083170
- Date first listed:
- 16-Dec-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Ruins of Wressle Castle
- Statutory Address:
- RUINS OF WRESSLE CASTLE, BREIGHTON ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-01-26
- Reference:
- IOE01/03467/14
- Rights:
- © Mr John Turner. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1083170
- Date first listed:
- 16-Dec-1966
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 15-Sept-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Ruins of Wressle Castle
- Statutory Address 1:
- RUINS OF WRESSLE CASTLE, BREIGHTON ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- RUINS OF WRESSLE CASTLE, BREIGHTON ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- East Riding of Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Wressle
- National Grid Reference:
- SE 70660 31547
Details
WRESSLE BREIGHTON ROAD SE 73 SW (west side, off)
5/145 Ruins of Wressle Castle 16.12.66 GV Castle. c1380 with later alterations and repairs. For Sir Henry Percy. Limestone ashlar with brick repair work. The south range only survives, consisting of 2 towers flanking a central rectangular range. The original hall formed the west range, and the gatehouse the east range, while the rectangle was completed by a north service range. South facade: central 3- storey, 6-bay range with 3-storey, 2-bay tower to left and 4-storey, 2-bay tower to right. The towers break forward slightly and their inner returns are occupied by square turrets. Double chamfered plinth. Left tower: blocked central square-headed 2-light mullioned window with blocked lancet to right. First floor: tall empty window opening with fine angel corbel to support original oriel. 2-light trefoiled transomed window to right. Second floor: stepped-in and with 2-light trefoiled transomed windows. Octagonal turret to north-west corner. Main range: irregular fenestration with square-headed slit windows to flanking turrets. Ground floor: all openings blocked. Square-headed doorway with trefoiled single-light window above. Otherwise round-headed windows of single, 2, 3 and 5 lights. First floor: tall window of 3 round-headed lights to left. Three trefoiled 2- light transomed windows with quatrefoils pierced through spandrels, rising through 2 storeys, to centre. Pair of square-headed single-light windows and a single-light trefoiled window to right. Second floor: single-light trefoiled window to left, 2 square-headed single-light windows to right. Octagonal chimney with elaborate cap to right turret. Right tower: pair of square-headed single-light windows flanked by single-light trefoiled windows, all blocked. First floor: 2-pairs of cinquefoiled windows with inverted trefoiled light flanked by niches to spandrels. Second and third floors each have paired trefoiled windows. Eaves string course and plain coped parapets throughout. Rear wall of central range similar to front facade. Interior: some 4-centred-arched fireplaces remain but the lavish plasterwork for which the castle was renowned was destroyed in a fire of 1796. The rest of the castle was demolished in 1648-50. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. Neave D, "Wressle Castle", Archaeological Journal, Vol 141, 1984, pp 58-60. Pevsner N, Yorkshire: 'York and the East Riding, 1972.
Listing NGR: SE7066031547
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 165373
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire - York and the East Riding, (1972)
Archaeological Journal in Archaeological Journal, Vol. 141, (1984), 58-60
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 14:13:48.
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