En un regard
Le château en bref
Rothwell Castle is a medieval manorial site at Rothwell, south-east of Leeds (West Yorkshire). Tradition attributes it to Ilbert de Lacy, who is said to have founded it in the 11th century, perhaps on the site of a hall belonging to the Anglo-Scandinavian thegn Harold. It was probably first a timber castle, later replaced by a fortified stone manor house. The site served as a hunting lodge for the honour of Pontefract.
In 1341 Rothwell held a substantial stone house and was the main administrative centre for the northern half of the honour. Several kings stayed there: King John in 1212, then Edward II in 1319 and 1323. By 1485 the buildings were described as ruinous. Two years later Henry VII leased them to Roger Hopton, on condition that he build a hall, a parlour, a chamber and a kitchen.
Today only an irregular, heavily weathered column of rubble masonry survives, apparently the remains of a newel stair. Building debris shows in the surrounding land, but no ground plan can be deduced from it and no associated earthworks are visible. The remains are protected as a Scheduled Monument.