Sheriff Hutton
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The small Yorkshire village of Sheriff Hutton has two sites of Ricardian interest, the remains of the castle and the Church of St Helen and Holy Cross.
To be found in the grounds of a local farm, the castle is a total ruin, with only a few turrets and the corners of the keep still standing. It has been described as looking like an upturned table!
Richard acquired the castle through his marriage and although he preferred to live in Middleham, in 1484, he made it one of the two centres that housed the Council of the North. The other was at Sandal, another property of the House of York. This Council was the administrative structure that Richard established to govern the north following his accession as King of England. As an administrative entity, it survived into the seventeenth century.
The castle site is endangered and English Heritage are taking action. See article in Richard in the Media Archive.
The church is to be found up a small lane and whilst it looks drab and unprepossessing from the outside, it has many fine features inside. Most important is a memorial to a Prince of Wales. Although there is some doubt, it is believed to be that of Edward of Middleham, Richard III's son, who died in 1484. The memorial is a cenotaph, not a tomb, as the prince was buried elsewhere, and its present position in the north east corner of the church is not where it was intended to stand. From past records, it would seem that the monument has had several sites within the church. Made of alabaster, it has suffered over the years and during the twentieth century, it was twice restored at the Society’s expense Click here to learn more.
The village is about 13 miles north of York on a minor road off the A64.