Middleham is noted for three outstanding features - its connection with King Richard the Third, its magnificent Castle (King Richard`s childhood home) with the largest keep in the north of England and in more modern times its horse-racing industry.  

There has been a settlement here since Roman times and Middleham is mentioned in the Domesday Book when its name was `Medelai`.  

This view from the edge of the Low Moor shows the magnificent outline of the great castle, once known as the `Windsor of the North` during the reign of King Richard III

One of the earliest most influential inhabitant of the castle was Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick also known as `The Kingmaker` who during the Wars of the Roses held both Edward IV and Henry VI prisoner at Middleham.  It was in 1462 that a young Richard, (then Duke of Gloucester) first came here to learn the skills of war in the care of Warwick. It was here that Richard met his future wife Anne Neville (Warwick's daughter) and they married in 1472.  During his time at Middleham he increased its status when it became his political power base whilst he administered the North on behalf of his brother King Edward 1V  and created more trading opportunities at extra `fairs` in the town.   It was also his intention to found a college and in 1478 the Church of St. Mary and St. Alkelda was made `collegiate` by Richard, then Duke of Gloucester and had history taken a different course, Middleham could possibly have been a great seat of learning with a King`s College here!    Richard became King in 1483 much to the joy of the inhabitants of Middleham. His reign, however, was short and he suffered personal tragedies, his eleven year old only son Edward died at Middleham Castle on the 9th April 1484 followed the next year by Richard`s wife Anne who died, aged 28, on March 16th 1485.  Richard did not survive his wife long, he died, aged only 31, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 fighting valiantly to the last ~ the last reigning English monarch to die in battle and he was greatly mourned here in the north ~ requiem mass is still said in Middleham Church on the anniversary of his death. Much has been written on the life and times of this enigmatic sovereign. Unfortunately the best known has been the storyline by William Shakespeare who portrayed him as a villain thus gaining favour for himself  with the Tudors.. But latter day historians have tried to redress the balance portraying him as betrayed, unfairly maligned, generous, loyal  and much loved
by his people.

"King Richard, late mercifully reigning upon us.. was slain and murdered to the great heaviness of this city"                               
(York City Council Books - entered the day after Bosworth) 

King Richard III
  (portrait reproduced by kind permission
of the Richard III Foundation)

The Last Plantagenet King
          For more information on the life of King Richard III
please go to our `links` section where there are connections
to informative websites.

The Middleham Jewel

This jewel belongs to the period of Richard III and is almost certainly a reliquary containing perhaps a fragment of wood reputed to come from The Cross, or some other relic associated with Christ. 

Here is an interesting link to a website with information on the Battles and People
involved in the Wars of the Roses
www.wars-of-the-roses.com

Middleham Castle: A Royal Residence

Take a journey around this fabulous castle as it is now and as it was in Richard the third's time, in all its splendour. If you have visited Middleham Castle and wondered what it might have looked like when it was home to
King Richard you should take a look at this website:

 www.loyaltybindsme.com

Here you will find details of an amazing computerised reconstruction
on DVD also gorgeous prints of the castle as it was then and now!
We highly recommend it to all lovers of Middleham & King Richard III