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History & heritage ยท Danby

Danby Castle

A fortified 14th-century manor that was home to Catherine Parr, and still the seat of a working manorial court.

Photo: Peter McDermott, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph

Danby Castle stands on a shelf of land above the Esk at the foot of Danby Dale. Built in the 14th century for the Latimer family, it was designed more for comfort and show than for war, with four corner towers around a central courtyard.

Catherine Parr lived here as the wife of John Neville, Lord Latimer, before she became the sixth and last wife of Henry VIII in 1543. The castle later fell into partial ruin and part of it became a farmhouse, which it remains today.

The Danby Court Leet, an ancient manorial court that still regulates rights on the common land of the dale, meets in the castle's courtroom every year. The castle is private, but can be seen from the lane, and the nearby medieval Duck Bridge across the Esk is a lovely spot.

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