Barden Tower

History

Barden Tower began in the 12th century as a hunting lodge for the Cliffords of Skipton. After the Norman Conquest, Robert de Romille received the Honour of Skipton, which included Barden Forest, and the lodge became the main base for administering the forest and holding the forest courts. It also gave local people a place of refuge from Scottish raids in the 14th century. Toward the end of the 15th century, Henry, 10th Lord Clifford, known as the Shepherd Lord, rebuilt it as a large tower house between about 1485 and 1490, and he also built the chapel and the Priest's House. Henry preferred spending his time at Barden more than at his grander main seat, Skipton Castle.

Barden Tower was not built for defense but rather as a lavish residence. After Henry died in 1523, it was neglected and used only occasionally as a hunting lodge or temporary home. Margaret, Countess of Cumberland, wife of the 3rd Earl, stayed here in 1589 before the birth of her daughter, Lady Anne Clifford. Lady Anne inherited the Clifford estates in 1643, and she repaired the tower in 1658 and 1659. She also restored other castles in the area, including Skipton, Brough, Brougham, and Pendragon. An inscription in stone to Lady Anne over the south doorway of Barden Tower reads:

The stone inscription to Lady Anne Clifford.

THIS BARDEN TOWER WAS REPAYRD BY THE LADIES ANNE CLIFFORD COUNTESS DOWAGER OF PEMBROOKE DORSETT AND MONTGOMERY BARONESSE CLIFFORD WESTMERLAND AND VESEIE LADY OF THE HONOR OF SKIPTON IN CRAVEN AND HIGH SHERIFESSE BY INHERITANC OF THE COUNTIE OF WESTMERLAND IN THE YEARES 1658 AND 1659 AFTER IT HAD LAYNE RUINOUS EVER SINCE ABOUT 1589 WHEN HER MOTHER THEN LAY IN ITT AND WAS GREATE WITH CHILD WITH HER TILL NOWE THAT ITT WAS REPAYRED BY THE SAYD LADY. ISA. CHAPT. 58. VER. 12. GOD'S NAME BE PRAISED!

An arched doorway.

An outer curtain wall once existed around the tower and was probably removed after the English Civil War, though there is no solid date for it. Only a simple gateway archway remains of the exterior wall. Barden Tower was captured by rebels during the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536.

A band of militia garrisoned at Barden Tower during the Jacobite rising of 1745 to defend the area against the Jacobite army from Scotland. While the Scots did go through Yorkshire, there are no records of any skirmishes involving Barden Tower. The tower started to fall into a ruined state at the end of the 18th century, when the lead and timbers of the roof were taken off. After Lady Anne died in 1676, Barden passed with Bolton through the Earls of Cork and Burlington to the family of the Duke of Devonshire, and the Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement own it today. The outer walls were repaired in 1899 to make them safe for visitors, and a grant from English Heritage helps pay for continued repairs.

Castle Highlights

A view of the ruined interior.

Only the outer shell of the tower house remains of Barden Tower. Access to the inside is off-limits to the public due to the danger of falling rocks from the ruin. Still, enough of the ruin remains to know that this was a formidable residence in its day.

It is worth a visit, but there needs to be more to see to plan a whole day out just visiting the ruins. Bolton Priory is located on the same Bolton Abbey Estate, and Skipton Castle is only 5 miles away. A visit to Barden Tower should be combined with seeing one or both other sites.

The Priest's House beside the tower, built by Henry Clifford, is now a restaurant and wedding venue.