Horston Castle

Horston Castle
Amber Valley, Derbyshire
Horston Castle (2007)
Horston Castle is located in Derbyshire
Horston Castle
Horston Castle
Coordinates52°59′05″N 1°26′34″W / 52.98483°N 1.44288°W / 52.98483; -1.44288
Site information
Conditionruined
Site history
In useC12-C14
Official nameHorsley Castle tower keep castle
Designated31 October 1962
Reference no.1009293

Horston Castle (sometimes spelt Horeston and also known as Horsley Castle)[1] is about 1 mile to the south of the village of Horsley, some 5 miles north of the English city of Derby (grid reference SK375432). The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument but, as of 2018, is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register as poor condition.[2]

It was a Norman motte and bailey castle which was founded by Ralph de Buron. In the 13th century King John built a stone castle, adding a keep, a chapel, a gatehouse and a barbican. In 1514 it was granted by Henry VIII to the Duke of Norfolk as a reward for services against the Scots. Later it came into the possession of the Stanhope family.

The castle is ruined today, damaged by extensive quarrying. There are visible remains of the keep although this is now largely overgrown.

  1. ^ Historic England. "Horsley Castle tower keep castle (1009293)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. ^ Heritage at Risk Register 2018, West Midlands (Report). Historic England. p. 3. Retrieved 1 January 2019.