Richmond Castle

Richmond Castle is a Norman Castle. It was begun in the 1070’s by Count Alan Rufus The Red who was a kinsman of William the Conqueror.  He fought at the Battle of Hastings and was granted the land by King William.  He built the castle to defend his land from the Anglo Saxons.

The keep was built by his son Conan after 1154 to show how rich he was.  Later on the castle was taken over by Henry II who built some new towers and houses.

After the fourteenth century the castle was allowed to decay it was completely unused for the next 300 years. 

The castle was owned by the Duke of Richmond in the 1700’s and some repairs were made to the keep.  Artists came to the castle to paint it and it became a fashionable place for tourists to visit.

In 1908 the Duke leased the castle to the army and it was the headquarters of the Northern Territorial Army.  Robert Baden-Power, founder of the Boy Scouts was in command there for a little while. 

During the first World War the castle was used to detain men who were conscientious objectors.  These were people who didn’t want to take part in the war because they didn’t believe in it.  The walls of the rooms where they were kept are covered in graffiti.  Some of the men who were kept here were known as the Richmond Sixteen.