Wheldrake

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Coldric; Queldric; Qweldric; Queldrike; Queldrik

In the civil parish of Wheldrake. In the historic county of Yorkshire Ainsty & York (Modern Authority of York, 1974 county of North Yorkshire).

The lord of Wheldrake built a small castle there before 1149, when the king authorized the citizens of York to destroy it. In 1200 Richard Malbis was licensed to fortify a castle that he was building, but its completion was prevented, again at the instance of York. The castle probably stood on a spur of higher ground near the flood-plain of the Derwent, in a position to command the river. It is possible that a manor-house stood at this site after 1200 and it may have belonged to the Darels, who as undertenants of Fountains abbey had a manor-house in 1361. The manor-house of the capital manor probably lay at the east end of the village and it seems likely that it became the site of the abbey's grange. (VCH ER Yorks)
Stephen sought further to enlist their support by handing over to them for destruction a fortalice at Wheldrake on the Derwent (E.R.) which commanded the south-eastern approaches to the city (VCH City York)
A moated site at Storwood (qv) is suggested by Renn as a location for Wheldrake.
In Early Yorkshire Charters (vol. xi p192 no164) is recorded a grant of land by Geoffrey Darel 'ante portam castellarii de Queldrik'. This is translated as 'before the gate of the precinct of the castle of Wheldrake' but castellarii may well be translated as village in this context (see Abigail Wheatley's The Idea of the Castle (2004, York Medieval Press) p23-4). It is notable that Geoffrey reserves thatching material for his houses in Wheldrake (domos nostras in Queldrike). Thus this charter does not actual mention a castle it mentions a castellarii which might be translated as castlery which itself might mean village. Darel's dwelling is called a house. However, Castellarii is an unusual term and this suggest that Darel's house and/or manor of Wheldrake was unusual in some way. I suspect, based on general experience, that it was a house dressed up with military symbolism such as battlements and a gatehouse (these symbolic feature would not have been 'sham' but would - since the cost of a garrison is so high - not have been expected to have been used (think super car capable of 150mph+, it can go that fast but not legally in every day use). It was a castle (with some thatched roofs!) but not a 'military' building. The charter implies that the 'castle' was in the village and not some distance away and this is additional evidence to dismiss Renn suggestion of Storwood as the site.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SE6845

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 1390868
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is MYO61 '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.

• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Yorkshire (Malvern) p109
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p531
    Allison, K.J. (ed), 1976, 'Wheldrake' VCH Yorkshire East Riding Vol3 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=23014
    Tillott, P.M. (ed), 1961, VCH City of York p25 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36314
• Journal Articles
  • Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 p249-280 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p90-121] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28195904%2974%3A291%3C249%3AALOC1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P
    
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Clay, C. (ed), 1963, Early Yorkshire Charters Vol11 p192 no164 [grant of land before the gate of the precinct of the castle of Wheldrake]
    Raine, J. (ed), 1868, 'John of Hexham, Historia Johannis, prioris Hauhustadensis ecclesiae' in The Priory of Hexham, its Chroniclers, Endowments and Annals (2 vols) (Surtees Society 44) p159 [1149 destruction of castle]
    Roger de Hoveden (Translated by Riley, Henry T.,) 1853, The Annals of Roger Hoveden Vol2 pt4 p117
    PRO Chancery Miscellanea II/I