Aldbrough, Tup Hill

In the civil parish of Aldbrough. In the historic county of Yorkshire East Riding (Modern Authority of East Riding of Yorkshire, 1974 county of Humberside).

Aldbrough is the supposed site of a castle. It is supposed to have been in existence in 1115 as a grant made by Stephen Earl of Albermarl to the monks of St Martin de Albermarl of tenths of the castle. The C11 Church, a saxon foundation, is at TA245387 and the site was the principle residence of the Powerful Saxon Thane Ulf. Reputed to have been washed out to see centuries ago. However a 'Castle Hill' placename is shown 500m West of the church in a position which would be entirely usual for an early motte (TA238388). Has also been suggested that moat and earthworks at Bewick (Tup Hill - TA23293942) may be site but I consider this unlikely since Bewick is a distinct settlement from Aldbrough and was held by the de Melsas (Meaux) family. However VCH writes "The tradition that there was a castle at Aldbrough is based on a misreading of a charter of 1115, the castle referred to there being almost certainly that of Skipsea. Castle Hill was named in the mid C19, and Castle Park, a housing estate recently built in 1991, continues the tradition."
It should be noted that modern Aldbrough is a rebuilding of the old village lost to coastal erosion during the middle ages (probably after the dates of the charters above)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TA2639

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 81730
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Books
  • Kent, G.H.R., 2002, 'Middle division: Aldbrough' VCH Yorkshire East Riding Vol7 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=16125
    Ingham, Bernard, 2001, Bernard Ingham's Yorkshire Castles (Dalesman) p16
    Le Patourel, H.E. Jean, 1973, The Moated Sites of Yorkshire (The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Series 5) p110
    Bulmer, 1892, History and Directory of East Yorkshire
    Farrer, W. (ed), 1914-16, Early Yorkshire Charters Vol3 p30-2
    Sheahan, J.J., and Whellan, T., 1855, History and topography of the city of York, the Ainsty Wapentake and the East Riding of Yorkshire Vol1 p357
    Poulson, G., 1841, The History and Antiquities of the Seigniory of Holderness Vol2 p3, 5, 24
• Journal Articles
  • Beresford, M., Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol38 p58