Middleham

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Middleham
Image:dot4gb.svg
Statistics
Population: 840
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference: SE124878
Administration
District: Richmondshire
Shire county: North Yorkshire
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituent country: England
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county: North Yorkshire
Historic county: North Yorkshire
Services
Police force: North Yorkshire Police
Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}}
Ambulance: Yorkshire
Post office and telephone
Post town: LEYBURN
Postal district: DL8
Dialling code: 01969
Politics
UK Parliament: Richmond
European Parliament: Yorkshire and the Humber
Gatehouse of the Castle
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Gatehouse of the Castle

Middleham is a small market town in Wensleydale, in the Yorkshire Dales. There has been a settlement there since the Romans were in Britain.

The village is dominated by the castle, which was started in 1190. The Nevilles acquired it through marriage in the 13th century and called it the "Windsor of the North". It was subsequently acquired by Richard III in 1471 and is where his son was born. This castle in now a ruin, after having been dismantled in 1646. The keep, which was built by Robert Fitz Ralph in the 1170s survives to this day along the 13th century chapel and the 14th century gatehouse. The Church of Saints Mary and Alkelda dates to the 14th century and boasts a 3 m high Perpendicular font cover.

Today the village is a modern centre of horse racing in the UK. The first racehorse trainer to train there was Isaac Cape who trained in 1765. Today there are several racehorse trainers based there including Mark Johnston. Racing is the number one employer in the town.

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