Public Places
which provides reasonable access into the main church area. The zig-zag path was constructed in such a way as make access as easy as possible whilst blending sympathetically with the aesthetics of the site.”
Mick also confirmed that moss has been
prolific this past winter, with some grass areas within the cloisters totally overrun. The cost of removing it, or completely returfing these areas, would be prohibitive in the current financial climate, suggests Mick. Our next port of call was Helmsley Castle,
just a few miles east along the A170 from Rievaulx Abbey. The first castle was constructed in wood around 1120 but, in 1886, work began on converting the building to stone. In 1478 it was sold to Richard, Duke of Gloucester who later became Richard III. Richard did nothing to the castle, preferring to stay at Middleham Castle, about thirty miles to the west on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and also now in the care of English Heritage. During the Civil War, the castle was
besieged by the roundhead, Sir Thomas Fairfax, for three months. After it fell, Parliament ordered that it should be slighted (partially destroyed) to prevent its further use.
In 1687 the castle was sold to Charles
Duncombe, who built Duncombe Park, a fine country house overlooking the castle, and the castle was left as the ruin we see today. One of the attractions at Helmsley, and
Helmsley Castle - a ruin since 1687
several other sites including Middleham Castle mentioned above, in late spring/early summer is the Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus), a small alpine plant which is naturalised on the walls and produces a fine display of pale purple flowers. Here at Helmsley, much of the
maintenance work is again centred around grass cutting, with the major requirement being the management of the impressive moats and steep banks surrounding the castle. Generally, these long grass areas are cut once every three years. Mick confirms that cut and collect is a mammoth task for every contractor and comes at a huge cost to English Heritage. One way of controlling these areas would
Helmsley Castle
be to graze sheep, and Alan Cathersides pointed out that this method has been used at other sites. “In most cases, it comes down to logistics,” says Alan. “How many animals would be required, the time needed on site, how they could be contained and the safety to local residents, tourists and, of course, the animals? But it is something we will be looking into much more in the future.” Another possibility would be to get local
farmers to cut and collect for hay and silage, but, on many of the sites, the grass quality is compromised by other vegetation, making it a less worthwhile option, whilst the amount of flat land cuttable by large machines is also restrictive. The sheer steepness of the banks restricts the use of larger mowing machinery so, in
the shape of things to come
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Call: 01844 268 000 PC APRIL/MAY 2014 I 87
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