Danby Castle Traditional Cache
Dalesman: As there's been no cache to find for a long time, I'm archiving it to keep it from showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements.
Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
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The cache is located close to Danby Castle, which once belonged to the family of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth (and last) wife. There is roadside parking near to the cache.
At the time of the Norman Conquest, Danby was part of the Saxon estate of Crumberclive. The estate was given to the Fitz Baldric family who may have built the first castle in the area, at Castleton west of Danby. The Fitz Baldrics lost their land when they rebelled against the king and it passed on to the Brus or Bruce family who rebuilt the earth and timber castle in stone. Robert de Brus founded Guisborough Priory in 1119. In 1272 the Brus family died childless, and the Estate passed to the Thwengs, and then to the Latimers, whose Arms (along with the Roos family) appear on the North Front of Danby Castle.
With the death of the last of the Latimers, at the end of the 14th century, the estate passed to the famous Neville family. They remodelled the South Range, where their Arms can be seen on the south wall of the Courtroom. In the 16th century John Neville, Lord Latimer of Danby, who owned Danby Estate and Danby Castle, married Catherine Parr, and their marital home was Danby Castle.
The design of Danby Castle was new to the north of England, part fortress and part palace, and was much later copied – castles previously being built solely as a means of defence with little or no comfort for the residents. The castle dungeon is still intact and has a splendidly built domed roof!
Later in the same century the Estate passed to the Danvers family and Sir Henry Danvers was created Earl of Danby. In the 17th century Danby was bought by John Dawnay, later created Viscount Downe. The Estate has remained with the Dawnay family ever since. The South Range of the Castle was converted into a manorial Court-house with the former private chamber (solar) being divided into a Court Room, where the Court Leet still meets, and a Jury Room. As regards the rest of the old mansion, the South-East tower became and still remains, a farm house. Farm buildings were added and some original sections have fallen into ruins. Repairs were made in the 19th century and the South Range was restored in c. 1960.
Visits to Danby Castle can be made by arrangement with the tenant.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
haqre n ebpx