Aldborough Castle
Aldborough Castle was a medieval earthwork fortification located in Aldborough, North Yorkshire. The remains of the structure, primarily a circular mound known as Studforth Hill, are situated within the boundaries of the former Roman town of Isurium Brigantum.
Origins
A royal charter from around 1115 mentions a castello de Aldeburgo granted to the monks of St. Martin of Albemarle. However, this may refer instead to Skipsea Castle, as there is no archaeological or documentary evidence of a substantial stone structure at Aldborough. The remains are interpreted as a timber motte or ringwork castle likely dating from the late 11th or early 12th century.
Decline and abandonment
Following the return of the estate to the Crown, there are no further references to fortification or occupation at the site. Archaeological assessments indicate the absence of masonry, and only earthworks remain.
Earthworks
The surviving remains consist of a circular mound known as Studforth Hill, measuring approximately 61 metres in diameter and surrounded by a scarp. It is classified as either a motte or a ringwork. The site lies just outside the southern boundary of the former Roman town. The modern Ordnance Survey grid reference is SE 4065 6670.
Roman context
The earthwork was constructed within the area of the Roman town of Isurium Brigantum, which served as the administrative centre of the Brigantes tribe during the Roman period. Archaeological evidence indicates the presence of a Roman amphitheatre near Studforth Hill, suggesting that the Norman fortification may have reused part of the earlier Roman landscape.