South Cowton Castle
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South Cowton Castle is a 15th Century fortified dwelling house in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire. It is situated on the land that was once the Medieval village of South Cowton,
The Castle was built by Sir Richard Conyers in 1470 and it is the oldest surviving building of all of the Cowtons. The castle was built at the time of the Wars of the Roses, which gives an indication of why what is a country gentlemans house is so heavily fortified.
The castle is a grade I listed building and it situated near the 15th Century St Mary's Church, and overlooks the field markings from the abandoned village of South Cowton.
The building is rectangular in plan, with two towers at the south western and north eastern corners. It is three storeyed with four storey towers. The castle was altered in the 19th Century and repaired in 1980.
The castle is now used as a private farmhouse, it can be found just off the B1263 road near Atley Hill.
[edit] List of settlements in the Cowton parishes
- Atley Hill
- Atley Cowton (deserted)
- East Cowton (also known as ""Long Cowton"" and as "Magna Cowton")
- North Cowton
- Pepper Arden
- South Cowton
- Temple Cowton (deserted)