Pictures of Gilling Castle

a Castle in the town of Gilling East, in the county of North Yorkshire

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About Gilling Castle

Gilling Castle rises above Gilling East in a fabulous setting between the Hambledon and Howardian Hills.

The house is singularly beautiful, it demonstrates a fascinating mixture of building styles built around a central Tudor block which stands on the earlier foundations of the 14th century tower house belonging to Thomas of Etton. The house was added to in the 18th century, with wings thought to be the work of either Vanbrugh, Wakefield or Gibbs.

For over 500 years this was the home of the Fairfax family. In Elizabethan times Thomas Fairfax added the solar, this is well preserved and on occasions is open for viewing by the public.

Much of the building remains in its original state, with the most impressive feature of the building apart from its beautiful chimney-pieces, being the heraldic shields found in the stained glass windows of the Great Hall. Interestingly, when parts of the castle were sold off in 1930 this glass was purchased by William Randolph Hearst, the American publisher. Following Hearst's death in 1951, these were found still in their original packing cases - fortunately they were able to be re-purchased and returned to Gilling Castle.

The three windows of the Great Hall possess stained glass heraldic shields mainly in connection with the Fairfax family. The main bay window shows the arms of William Fairfax himself. In the South window is the arms of the Stapleton family - Jane Stapleton was William's second wife, the glass also depicts some of this families connections. William's son Thomas married Catherine Constable of Burton Constable, this family and their connections are commemorated by heraldic shields in the East window. The Fairfax and Stapleton windows carry the date and signature of Bernard Dininckhoff, the other window is of a later date.

There is superb wall panelling to be seen in the Great Chamber and a beautiful painted frieze above the panelling shows family trees bearing 370 coats of arms. This magnificent room is completed by a ceiling with a pattern of ribs and pendants.

In the gracious entrance hall visitors can see Corinthian columns and stucco work by Cortese. The Long Gallery was sold off at the same time as the glass was sold to Hearst, this is now in the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle.

Today, the castle is a school. The Hall and grounds are open for most of the summer.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Gilling Castle.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Gilling Castle

Byland Abbey	(3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction W)	Pictures
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All attractions in North Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Gilling Castle

Helmsley, a Historic Market Town in the county of North Yorkshire (4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction N)
The town itself is very pretty with lots of interesting stone buildings set around a market square where visitors can find attractive craft and gift shops, as well as cafe's and no less than four former coaching inns.
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Coxwold, in the county of North Yorkshire (4.3 miles, 7.0 km, direction W)
Coxwold is one of those villages that appear to have changed very little with the passing of the centuries.
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Rievaulx, in the county of North Yorkshire (5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction NW)
The pretty village of Rievaulx has a wealth of stout stone cottages and a few hansome houses nestling in a curve beyond dry-stone walls beneath the wooded hills of the beautiful Rydale Valley.
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Husthwaite, in the county of North Yorkshire (5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction W)
Set in the spacious countryside between the Hambleton and Howardian Hills, the attractive village of Husthwaite stands on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors.
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Lastingham, in the county of North Yorkshire (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction NE)
Lastingham is a small village set amidst fine wooded Yorkshire countryside. It is an area renowned for its wonderful scenery where often in a quiet lane you will find an ancient corn mill.
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Old Malton, in the county of North Yorkshire (12.4 miles, 19.9 km, direction E)
This delightful village nestles beneath the shadow of the Howardian Hills close to the rivers Rye and Derwent.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Pickering, a Historic Market Town in the county of North Yorkshire (12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction E)
The enduring popularity of the East Coast of North Yorkshire owes much to the excellent long sandy beaches, while the lure of the wild moorland and its communities never fades.
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Rosedale Abbey, in the county of North Yorkshire (13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction NE)
This is a lovely village hidden in a lush green valley landscape of sweeping hillsides, meadows and breathtaking scenery.
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Thornton-le-Dale, a Picturesque Village in the county of North Yorkshire (14.5 miles, 23.4 km, direction E)
Thornton-le-Dale is a lovely village lying at the foot of the North Yorkshire Moors.
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York, a Historic City in the county of North Yorkshire (15.4 miles, 24.8 km, direction S)
One of the most historic cities in Britain with overs 2000 years of history...
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All towns in North Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Malton Station	(11.7 miles, 18.8 km, direction E)
Thirsk Station	(12.6 miles, 20.4 km, direction W)
A1(M) Junction 49	(14.1 miles, 22.7 km, direction W)
A1(M) Junction 49	(15.0 miles, 24.1 km, direction W)
Teesside International Airport	(26.7 miles, 42.9 km, direction NW)
Leeds Bradford International Airport	(32.8 miles, 52.8 km, direction SW)
Gilling Castle to London	(189.3 miles, 304.6 km, direction S)

Accommodation & Hotels near Gilling Castle

Hotel Name
Black Swan Hotel	(4.3 miles, 6.9 km, direction N)
George Hotel	(6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction SW)
The Blackwell Ox Inn	(7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction S)
Talbot Hotel	(11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction E)
Aldwark Manor - A QHotel	(12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction SW)
Ramada York	(13.4 miles, 21.5 km, direction S)
Crown Hotel	(14.5 miles, 23.3 km, direction SW)
Heworth Court Hotel	(15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction S)
The Grange Hotel	(15.2 miles, 24.5 km, direction S)
Monkbar Hotel	(15.4 miles, 24.8 km, direction S)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts