Conquering the Castle Narrative: Family, Opportunity and the Lived Experience at Yorkshire Castles

Beyond the awesome scale of the medieval castle, these buildings have a rich story to tell about the families that lived there and the communities around them. Taking a second glance at the physical remains is always rewarding, as Leah Goddard found when visiting Middleham and Richmond Castles for the module The Visible Past.

Over the course of a few weeks on the Visible Past module, we have been considering how castle studies and scholarship have favoured particular narratives over others when considering the subjects of their investigation. Our class trip to Middleham Castle and Richmond Castle helped not only to solidify that which we had been discussing as a group, but to demonstrate this ideological favouritism up close.

We began the day at Middleham Castle. I was immediately struck by its sheer size and magnitude, and how it dominates the surrounding town’s landscape. Upon entering the castle grounds, we were confronted with a statue of Richard III, in commemoration of his time spent at Middleham. We soon came to learn, however, that Richard’s involvement with Middleham was not as great as the statue might suggest. It was, in fact, the Neville family who inherited the castle and began re-building in the 13th century that was at the heart of much of the structure and its impressive development. Evidence could be seen in the overall layout of Middleham how certain areas were used as living quarters for visitors, staff, and the ever-growing Neville family; private space that indicated a need for this privacy, yet still closely connected to castle activity. A viewing of the structure in its entirety demonstrated to us how Middleham Castle was, as much as anything else, a family home.

Richmond Castle was our next stop for the day and, as at Middleham, the presence of the site was slightly overwhelming. However, I came to understand the reasons for this as not only was the town of Richmond situated outside the structure, but also within. Once walking through to the enclosure of the castle, this was an idea I could certainly visualize, and was described to us as an ‘area of opportunity’. Whilst Richmond certainly had its military uses, particularly in the Victorian era, intentional choices in the structure to connect all elements of the space stood out to me. Particularly, having the chapel perfectly in between the keep and living quarters, and as an easily accessed space, can help to demonstrate the importance of religious practice to the everyday. A walk through the gardens also prompted interesting discussions with my particular walking group as to how these spaces, natural or constructed spaces such as the chapel, could further our ideas on the daily lives and routines at Richmond.

What interested me the most about both Middleham and Richmond was their importance as domestic spaces and family homes. There is a misconception from many (myself included, until learning more on this module) that castles are purely military spaces designed for protection against siege. Where in truth, castles are multi-purpose structures designed for everyday use as well as military prowess. I found it a shame to understand how this misrepresentation came to be, and consider the lived experiences of those who inherited, resided in, or worked within these spaces as almost fleeting in favour of a supposedly grander story.

This misconception is challenged within both of these sites and others like it; choices made in the layouts and floor plans of a space can reveal just as much as the structure’s materials or preservation. And as a group we were consistently challenged to rethink our pre-conceptions, what we saw before us, and the intentions behind the structures we were engaging with. I felt that I had left this experience with a further interest in heritage and the presentation of history, as well as a knowledge of how close inspection and consideration of the visible past can reveal much more than thought at first glance.

Separation, Socialisation and a Sense Monastic Life

Visiting historic sites allows us to experience the sounds, spaces and structures of the medieval past in a special way, inviting new ideas and questions about their significance. At Yorkshire’s monastic sites, it can emphasise connections with nature as well as highlight isolation and the distinct ways faith was demonstrated at these places, as Scarlett Walker found when visiting of Mount Grace Priory and Rievaulx Abbey for the module The Visible Past.

As soon as the coach pulled into the car park, the first thing to notice about both Mount Grace Priory and Rievaulx Abbey is the complete isolation. Both buildings are cut off from ordinary life within the stones of their monastic building. Mount Grace is built at the bottom of a valley and is completely surrounded by nature. The sound of pheasants and geese is prominent when there and, even in modern life, the hum of the motorway is a distant sound. At Mount Grace, the idea of isolation is built into the very foundations of the monastery. This is demonstrated by the reconstructed monastic cell, which shows how the monks would have lived separately from each other. These were self-reliant houses with gardens to grow food and working tools, such as a loom in the attic. There was a hole in the wall where food would be delivered to them, which was curved to keep them from seeing each other. The monastic cells were situated around the edge of the cloister. The cloister was the only area of socialisation the Carthusian monks would have had each week when they went to church in the chapel, of which the bell tower is still visible. The tower rises above the cloister, suggesting it is the focal point of the monastery and the most significant part for the monks living there, where they could demonstrate their faith.

The isolation was also similar at Rievaulx Abbey. To get there we had to go down a rather steep hill to reach the car park which was set away from the building. It is very far away from any modern-day roads and is completely buried in the walls of nature. It was surrounded by tall, steep hills of shrubbery and trees, and was also built near the river Rye, which was visible as we drove away from the abbey. This is evidence of how the monks who inhabited Rievaulx would have used nature and ingrained it into their daily lives. Although there is a sense of isolation present in the placing of Rievaulx Abbey it has a different sense to the idea of isolation than that of Mount Grace Priory. Mount Grace believed in separation from each other as well as the world outside of the religious order, whereas Rievaulx had shared dormitories where the monks lived among each other as well as communal eating space and places of worship. This was done in the magnificent church building which is still visible today and towers over the complex. The sheer height of this church demonstrates that it was at the centre of monastic life. The church and cloisters were built surrounded by fields, which created enclosures for livestock, orchards and made it easy for agriculture, demonstrating the self-reliance of the abbey. These walls are still visible at the site today and give a sense of what life for a monk would have been like. Rievaulx Abbey also has an infirmary, the location of which is still visible at the site. This would have been where they took care of the sick, older monks and it formed the earliest surviving infirmary complex in a Cistercian building in Britain. It demonstrates the monk’s need to look after each other and their own.

Another thing noticeable after visiting both abbeys was the difference in design. Mount Grace Priory has a simplistic build to it, an idea of necessity rather than aesthetics. The monastic cells were small and simple, with a room for sleeping, a room for praying, an attic upstairs for working and a small garden in the back for growing vegetables and supporting themselves. Even the belltower, which was the centrepiece of the priory, was smaller than the typical idea of a belltower, built for purpose rather than design. Rievaulx, however, was gothic and impressive and it towered over the landscape, letting everyone know it was there. Everything about Rievaulx Abbey was lavish and striking from the large windows and high ceilings, where stained glass would have allowed light to shine down onto the altar and into the most significant part of the monastery. The abbey was built over three floors and shows its imposing nature, a dominating presence over the surrounding countryside. Although a lot of the walls are ruins, the height and the nature of the walls are still visible at the site, and it is clear that the building was seen as significant in this period.

Recollections of the Past, Future Nostalgia

Archive collections can spark a wide array of emotions in those who view them, especially when items have a personal connection. On placement at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, second year student Farhan Naqui found a surprising link to a childhood memory in the Rowntree Theatre collection, stirring thoughts on the nostalgic power of archives.

People associate and commemorate particular objects, subjects and life experiences with archives. When observing archives, these fragments connect us to the past. Going through the Joseph Rowntree Theatre collection, I found a poster that joined me with my history. This was a Tweenies event that occurred at the theatre. The poster brought many memories of my childhood and nostalgia. The Tweenies poster felt personal as the theatre archives were fascinating but disconnected from me. However, observing the archive in question made the experience of my placement personalised. I looked at the dates which weren’t on the poster. I had to use my research skills to find the year of this event. I felt a sense of my childhood come back to life as it triggered my fond memories. Archives allow an individual to recollect many past memories which they have forgotten about.

When looking around the Borthwick Institute, there’s a display of the Rowntree collections. The collections are preserved in glass cases within the building and contain old confectionary boxes, posters and archives, which are still in production to this day. When observing the collection, I was well-educated on the Rowntree Foundation. All the information was placed in a chronological order which described the history of the brand. The most exciting archive was an illustration of the Fruit Pastilles. Fruit Pastilles have evolved in a new direction as they are now vegetarian, which they were not before. I found this interesting, as Rowntree is appealing towards more audiences but still keeping the previous clientele happy. Going back to the related theme of nostalgia, I could see comparisons towards the older model to the new model. Many products have either developed from the original design or kept their authenticity. I find it fascinating that people in the current time have the ability to think further ahead of time to preserve history for the future. The reason I completed the placement is to allow future generations to be educated on the Rowntree Theatre as well as learn about the present, which will be their past. One thing I have learnt is the changes archives display within society, economics and industry. It allows businesses like the Rowntree brand to observe significant changes and trends between archives to understand what previous workers did to improve their brand.

Moving Pictures

Film is so evocative that researching old home movies can be emotional, as well as raise a whole array of questions, as Fae Godstchalk-Hart found on placement at the Yorkshire Film Archive. They share their thoughts here.

During my placement I worked in the Yorkshire Film Archives and I must say that though the work was not much different from what I was usually doing at university anyway, the experience was very enjoyable! They started of us newbies with a simple introductory course, which gave us a brief overview of what the archive was and also a little bit of the history of film. The experience was amazing on that day. On the day we learned how the first ever moving picture was made by a Frenchman in non other than Leeds! Unfortunately he went missing before he could patent his invention but the idea that films originated so close to home was more than fascinating. That was followed by examining the development of film through the years and I was very surprised to find that colour film had been around since the early 20^th century but was of course incredibly expensive. We then looked at some old film video cameras that would have likely been used for home videos. The objects that we handled there are a long way from what you would be used to today! The thought of carrying one around for more than a couple minutes alone made my arm ache. They were incredibly heavy.

The fun with the physical media didn’t stop there. We then went on to working and editing some pieces of real film reel, which really gave another meaning to the term ‘cut’. The process consisted of physically taking the film and slicing it apart with a special device and then re-taping it together with special tape. The old movie makers, and any poor editor working under Tarantino (who still uses reels of film and old cameras), must have been agonisingly time consuming which really makes you think about how far we have come as a society now. Now you can do all the film editing you want even from your phone, with just a few simple button presses.

The rest of the placement, and the actual work, consisted taking various films from the archives that had not yet been given a historic context and giving them an historic context. Most of these were of various home videos but some of the underlying topics of the videos were not only heart-warming but fascinating. My favourite two of the five I wrote contexts for were one about a man using gardening as a form of therapy after being disabled and another about fox hunting. The one about disability, labelled disability and the garden, led me down some thought-provoking research into the effects that disability can have on someone’s life, not just in physical difficulty but in mental difficulty as well. I naturally dived deeper and deeper into the topic and found that gardening is a proven form of therapy that has psychological research proving that it works in alleviating mental troubles. It has been commonly used to treat many forms of mental illness, such as depression and anxiety, and there are even charities that will help the disabled remodel their gardens so they can more easily participate. The second about fox hunting was more interesting than it was heart-warming. Foxes used to have a much lower population and the hunt for them was considered a working class form of sport. However, after the hunt was picked up by members of the upper class due to the chase being so long and thrilling, active breeding programs were put in place in order to up the fox population. In addition to this the very landscape was changed to better accommodate them just so they could be hunted. This raises a few questions about the ethics around fox hunting in the modern day most certainly, as their population problem is a direct cause of hunting! Yet hunting is often seen as the solution to the problem in many rural areas. It also raises questions about how class activities change from the rich to the poor depending on the circumstances and the timing. What else could have been affected by this sort of shift?

Personal Experience and the Weight of Cultural History

Exploring the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Archive while on placement at the Borthwick Institute for Archives proved a transformative experience for second year student, Perry Cooper, as he explains here.

My time at the Borthwick Institute for Archives has been a journey of discovery and personal development. My tasks there consisted of the analysis, documentation and storage of historical data gifted to the archives by the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, which has had archival material since its opening in all the way back to 1935. As a consequence of my time there, I find myself feeling much more confident in my subjectivity, reliability and professionalism, meaning that I feel much more secure in my abilities as both a historian and a person. Moreover, being able to learn from senior archivists there also proved to be a significant boon, as I was able to fully understand what was required to become one, both in terms of qualifications and general roles. I think most important of all to me is that the archives have transformed my perception of a career with history and actually given me the physical evidence of putting it into practice, which is certainly beneficial to me in presenting history as a viable career.

Before my placement began, I had no prior experience of the proper functions of an archive, let alone how to correctly store archival information. All I knew was what an archive was there for. I think everyone, including myself, has taken a rather simplistic view on archives. They collate and catalogue data, yes. But my time at the Borthwick archives have made me realise the value of cultural preservation as I got hands-on experience in being able to document York’s complex and varied history, meaning I have a greater understanding of just how significant culture really is. Furthermore, I also realised that there is a profound sincerity to history, as every playbook and script I sorted through carried with it many tales of its past, from modest tears to coffee stains. Even a humble place like a theatre can be steeped in rich and vibrant history, which is something I’m ultimately going to be much more sensitive to and aware of now because of the opportunities afforded to me by the Borthwick archives.

Overall, the Borthwick Institute for Archives has allowed me to feel more confident in my own personal abilities, as well as given me an empirical experience in the field of archival work, which has immensely helped in my choice of prospective careers. However, as a historian, the archives have also shown me the strong ties between culture and history that demand its preservation, as even the most insignificant cultural artefact contains a veritable wellspring of lived history.

Films, Fact-finding and Future Paths

Researching films at the Yorkshire Film Archive has been an enriching experience for second year student, Freya Rickards, both in terms of using historical skills and thinking about future careers. Here, she highlights her approach to writing context pieces for this special film collection.

For my History, Community and Culture module, I completed a placement at the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive to assist with their Nature Matters project, which looks at changes in the environment and local landscape throughout the 20th century. In my work I researched various films that were being used within the project and created a summary of the context and history behind each film, allowing for a better understanding of the films themselves as well as how they relate to the project. I was extremely happy to get a place on this placement, as being a History and American Studies student, I spend a lot of time studying film, and have therefore gained a great appreciation for all types of film, especially those that can reflect changes throughout history. The placement has also been a great help in my future career decision, as I had previously never thought of working in an archive, but now I am strongly considering it as a career path once I graduate.

I have completed six contextual pieces for my placement, with each focusing on a different film within the Nature Matters project. Choosing which film to research was quite simple, I read through the list of available films and chose six that appealed to me the most, whether it be due to the film’s content, the history behind the film, or simply the way the film visually looked. Once my films were chosen, I rewatched them and researched the history of the main theme of the film, for example a city, a social movement, or a place of interest. Once I had written a few paragraphs on the historical context of the chosen film, I submitted them to the archive for feedback, and then I made the appropriate revisions to the contextual piece if needed to endure that the contextual piece is of a good enough quality for the archive.

Overall, I have very much enjoyed my time at the archive. Learning about the history of film has been fascinating, and being able to handle old film cameras from the beginning of the 20th century has been amazing. Another highlight has been the opportunity for us on the placement to use a Steenbeck machine to show how film tapes are viewed. The placement has truly been a great opportunity and I am glad I have had the privilege to contribute towards the Nature Matters project.

Chocolate, Community and Conflict: Exploring the Rowntree Archive

The history of Rowntrees is famous across York and beyond not just for chocolate and confectionary, but also the work to alleviate poverty and develop community in the early 20^th century.  Second year student, Catherine Gallagher, had the opportunity to delve into the Rowntree archive while on placement at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, focusing particularly on the period of the Second World War. She shares her thoughts here.

The Rowntree company is well known for chocolate and the company’s factories, especially in York. However, the Rowntree family were not ordinary factory owners, as they built an entire community, including housing and even a theatre. The priority of these developments, such as the building of New Earswick, was to create a community with better housing and local facilities. This sense of community continued even throughout the war.

When researching the theatre collection during my placement, one thing that stood out was that plays still took place throughout the war – one of the ways people tried to keep up morale. As well as the theatre, Rowntrees also helped the community with sports clubs for men and women. They often did this for men so that they would be fit for the army, and the image from the archive collection below is an example of a men’s rugby club and the results of the match. 

Results were often published in the Rowntree company newspaper, the Cocoa Works Magazine. This was one of the documents I studied during my placement, while researching the Rowntree company’s involvement in the war and the sense of community the company created. This magazine not only spoke about local sporting events and games but also had letters from soldiers on the front lines talking about their experiences. They would often mention women working in the factories.

An article about a women’s club.

The company also advertised volunteer work or opportunities for the less fortunate. An example of this would be when mothers with young children who needed to work could drop their children off at the newly created day-care, so they could pick up on more wartime work. This further highlights how the Rowntree company acted to create a sense of community during World War II, reporting their work and events through their magazine, again helping to keep morale high and spread awareness of extra support for the less fortunate.

This article is about a practice should there be a bomb raid  during work hours at one of the factories.

I enjoyed the time I spent on this project as I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the sources about the Rowntree theatre and the Rowntree legacy. I especially enjoyed learning about the company’s war effort, as studying the Second World War is one of my favourite subjects.  Overall, thanks to this project, I have learnt so much about York’s part in the Second World War and its community, especially that the Rowntree company played a more significant role than I had expected.

History, Research and a Sense of Place

York is known for being an historic city and, for those studying the past, the historic environment can be truly inspiring. Second year student Leah Marshall shows just how captivating those surroundings can be, describing here the history all around her while on placement at York Explore.

Recently I had the privilege to partake in a volunteering experience at the city archive, where I had the chance to work in an amazing historical building – York Explore Library – and surround myself with beautiful and iconic historical features of the city of York.

The structure was built in 1927 and is in the heart of York, surrounded by numerous historical sites of the city. The library was dedicated on 23 September, 1927, by the Right Hon the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine C.M.G, Chairman of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, which contributed £13,200 to the building’s construction. Prior to the construction the library had been housed in what is now known as the York Dungeon on Clifford Street.

The building is surrounded by the very popular Museum Gardens and overlooks the ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital. These remains are amongst York’s oldest architectural ruins, with it being almost 500 years since the Reformation, which saw the hospital destroyed. The ruins of St Leonard’s initially resemble the remnants of an old church, and to some extent, this is accurate. The St Leonard’s hospital was formerly King Athelstan’s St Peter’s Hospital, but it was destroyed in a fire in 1069. King Stephen then reconstructed it in stone and some of these remnants can be found on the library grounds. During excavations, numerous Roman and medieval artefacts and items were discovered, including a Roman oven.

The historical beauty that surrounds the building immerses you into the history of York, making you want to explore it in the detail that the archives can provide. It certainly made me want to study more about York! Volunteering at the archive has allowed me to understand and appreciate some of the amazing historical features of this beautiful city. It has given me the opportunity to be able to research and analyse some of the work that has been produced over time to make the city of York the popular tourist destination it is today.

The building is also on the site of the Multangular Tower. York’s history may be traced back to at least AD 71, when the Roman 9th legion arrived at the strategic meeting point of the rivers Ouse and Foss and erected a fort to defend themselves against hostile inhabitants. The Multangular Tower, which can be seen from the windows of the library, was an important feature of the fortress defence. So, if you come to visit this outstanding historical landmark, make sure to have a look within the archives and research this amazing feature.

Inside the building, as you can see in the photograph above, there is a beautifully depicted story of some crucial historical events that took place in York, named York Panorama. I found this artwork fascinating, especially when looking at the detail it goes into and the magnificent yet emotional story it takes you on when looking at the history of York. This is just one out of many amazing things this building has to offer.

Place, space and community in Yorkshire castles

As part of the module The Visible Past, first year students study castles from different perspectives to understand the significance of these buildings and the people who used them. But it is only when exploring the sites themselves that knowledge of these spaces can really be put into context. Here, Ashanti Carlton shares her thoughts on visiting Middleham and Richmond Castles.

We began with the first site that we visited, Middleham Castle, which is in the middle of the town. The first thing you see is the gatehouse and the sheer thickness of the walls. What was also immediately evident was the size of the windows, especially in comparison to a lot of examples that we had previously studied, hinting at the occupants’ wealth with intricate designs combined in and around the windows.

As you first walk in you see a statue of King Richard III, which looks quite striking against the surroundings and stands out but shows a connection to the space. What I found to be enjoyable when learning about the space was not the focus on a specific individual in relation to the space but rather more of a focus on physical aspects in the space, such as the kitchen areas and the size of the domestic space, areas that we usually don’t associate with castles straight away but were important to everyday life. What was also interesting to see was the size of different spaces within the castle itself, for example the dorm-like space for the religious figures living within the site, also something that we don’t always immediately think of in the context of castles. Similarly communal garderobes (toilets), weirdly a common theme through both the spaces we visited!

Next, we visited Richmond Castle, which was again surrounded by the town but differed from Middleham Castle visually. For example, when you think of a castle on a hill with a large keep that’s what Richmond looks like, especially with it being on top of a hill, from which you could look out for miles. Within the castle there is a distinction of spaces that are in ruins and that are still standing, such as the space where important occupants would live and, again, another fixation on the toilet that was within the space, which I found quite funny. Next to this space are gardens in the grounds of the castle, which were quite beautiful and a nice thing to have to break up the space. I also enjoyed looking at the surrounding area from the top of the keep, despite the rain.

Looking back at the visits what was great about them was both the sense of community that you can see built up surrounding these castles, instead of them being isolated places, and also how the community is involved with the castle space.

A Community Theatre: Past, Present and Future

For her placement at the Borthwick Archive, second year student Charlotte Pearce explored the collection of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. Here, she examines the history and importance of the theatre since its foundation in 1935.

For my work placement I helped to process a newly obtained archive from the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. The archive covered all sorts from the opening of the theatre to the present day, including items such as scripts, programmes, letters, posters and newspapers, to name a few.

The Joseph Rowntree Theatre opened 18 November 1935 and was commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust. It’s a Grade II listed building and is the only Rowntree building left that is still used for its original purpose. Since first opening, the owners have always ensured the theatre was as well-equipped as other theatres. From the early 2000s onwards, many changes have been made to the theatre to ensure that it remains accessible to all. The theatre has undergone multiple renovations, including the refurbishment of the auditorium, upgrading the sound and lighting systems, and the replacement of technical equipment. Whilst adapting it to modern needs, there is always a focus on why it was built and a wish to preserve the best of the past. During these renovations, the community has always come together to help raise the funds needed.

Photograph of the Chocolate Works Magazine from when the theatre opened.

From the beginning, it was decided that the theatre would be in the very heart of the community, as a place of affordable entertainment, and it still is today. The theatre continues to be an integral part of society, providing entertainment and opportunities for volunteers to develop new skills. It is run for the community, by the community.

A 2001 article found in the archive – the theatre ‘continues to epitomise the community spirit so central to Joseph Rowntree’s philosophy’.

The owners believe it is the only standalone community theatre in the country, and perhaps even the world, which was built for the members of the Quaker faith. It presents a variety of shows including local amateur productions, dance, and professional productions. Thirty five groups regularly use the theatre, as well as being used to host different events. The Rowntree Players, a group formed by workers at the chocolate factory, made the theatre their home, and to this day continue to perform there on the same stage their founders did.

A newspaper article on the Rowntree Players.

York actors David Bradley (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones) and Ian Kelsey (Emmerdale, Casualty, Coronation Street) both performed for the Rowntree Youth Theatre, and the pair recently became patrons of the theatre during the 85^th anniversary celebrations. Bradley has spoken about the importance of the theatre, recognising its role as a vital part of the city, and the opportunities it has provided many young people, including himself.

The Rowntree Nestle company pulled out of managing the theatre to focus only on making confectionary. Despite shocking some, the move allowed those who took over freedom to make changes and the theatre is still continuing to thrive over twenty years since this decision.

As a theatre-lover myself, and someone who has performed and volunteered at my own local community theatre, I understand the importance of the opportunities community theatres provide. Seeing how the values of the theatre haven’t changed, despite the changing of the community around it, has been intriguing. It is the only Rowntree building that continues to be used for its original purpose, and it still brings the community together in such a big way.