Introduction

Welcome to our Castle Cawood history section. You can skip to subsequent pages using the links below or simply continue reading to start at the beginning.

Introduction

At Cawood, a small town in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the Archbishops of York had a palace, or rather Castle, as early as the tenth century. Wulstanus, sixteenth Archbishop, comprehended Cawood in his diocese, A.D. 941.

The first prelate who resided here was William de Grenfeld, Lord High Chancellor, who died at Cawood, and was buried in the Chapel of St. Nicholas, in York Minster, where his monument yet remains, with his effigies on brass upon it.

He built the west end of the Castle about the year 1306. The Hall was erected by Archbishop Bennet; and the Gatehouse, which is the only part remaining, was built by Cardinal John Kempe, Lord High Chancellor, about the year 1426. He endorsed it with his arms:

1. three wheat-sheaves without a border

2. three, with a border nubile

3. three without a border, ingrailed, indented

4. cross keys, and mitre

5. English and French arms, supported by two stags, a lion on the crest

6. arms, as the third article

7. arms of Canterbury

8. the first article; wheat-sheaves ingrailed as the third.

The Castle of Cawood was situated on the south bank of the Ouse, about ten miles from York.

Next page: Thomas Cardinal Wolsey

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