Peveril Castle
Peveril Castle stands above the village of Castleton on a limestone spur - a superb example of a defendable castle if ever there was one. Camden writing during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I said of the castle's position "by its situation impregnable, being built upon a steep and dangerous rock, to which there is but one way of getting up and that so full of windings, that it is two miles to the top of it." There are fine views of the Castle from the rear windows of The Old Workshop.
It's origins date back to 1086, when William de Peveril, the illegitimate son of William the Conqueror was made the bailiff of the royal manors in western Derbyshire. His job was to control hunting in the royal hunting forest of High Peak. He was given the land for his castle and in 1086 started building the north wall of the castle. It is thought that the original keep was built of wood, the stone enclosing the courtyard.
The land and castle wasn't owned by the Peverils for long. William's son was found guilty of the murder of Randulph, Earl of Chester. His land was confiscated by Henry II and was given to Henry's favourite son John. The stone keep was built in 1176 and cost the princely sum of £135. Records from 1179 state "In the provisioning of the Castle of the Peak for 20 sumis of corn, 50/- 6d; for 20 bacons 39/-; 20 knights received for 20 days £20 per Richard de Luci."
In 1157, the castle played host to a ceremony when Malcolm, the fifteen year old King of Scotland, came to Castleton to surrender the three northern counties including the fortresses of Carlisle, Bamburgh and Newcastle.
King John didn't own the castle for long either. When the Barons revolted against him, it was captured by William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby in 1215. Other owners included Simon de Montfort, Edward I before he was crowned. Edward II gave it to Piers Gaveston and then to his fourth daughter Joan who at the age of six was taken by here mother to marry Robert Bruce's son David (also six) in an attempt to unite the two kingdoms.
When Edward III gave the castle to his son John of Gaunt, it became part of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1932 it came into the custody of the Office of Works and is now looked after by English Heritage.