Hylton Castle

About Hylton Castle

Hylton Castle in Castletown was built as a fortified manor house around 1400 by Sir William Hylton. The gatehouse-tower is the only surviving building, and its entrance front still carries heraldry including the arms of the Hylton family and the white hart badge of Richard II. William Briggs bought the castle in 1862 and gave it a Gothic appearance; it was taken into state care in 1950 and is owned by English Heritage, with Hylton Castle Trust running it on English Heritage's behalf.

The castle is a multi-use community venue rather than an attraction with set hours. Entry is free, and guided tours, events and afternoon teas must be booked in advance through the Trust's website. The tearoom is generally open for walk-in visits Wednesday to Saturday, 11:30am to 2:30pm, with any changes posted on the Trust's Facebook page. The castle is also home to the local legend of the Cauld Lad, a stableboy's ghost.

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