The Middleham Restoration Endowment, Inc.

In 1990, the Middleham Restoration Endowment, Inc., was established to work in conjunction with English Heritage in the raising of funds for restoration and preservation of the fabric of Middleham Castle. Middleham Castle, located in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, is steeped in history dating back to before the Norman Conquest. The entry of Middleham in the Domesday Book refers to it as "Medelai", a French corruption of the name meaning a group of hamlets. It is the old Domesday of Middleham that is reflected in the name of our Ricardian journal, "The Medelai Gazette - the Chronicles of King Richard III".

In 1069, Alan the Red, Earl of Bretagne, the builder of Richmond Castle received the castle. During the centuries, the castle exchanged hands from the mighty families of the FitzRanulphs to the Nevilles, but its most famous resident was Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later known as Richard III. Richard came to Middleham as a young boy to begin his tutelage under his cousin, Richard Neville, known as the "Kingmaker". It was here that Richard's love affair began with the north of England, and it was here, that he met his cousin, the Lady Anne Neville, whom he would later marry. After the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury, Richard was granted Middleham, married Anne and retired to Middleham. After 1471, Middleham was truly the "Windsor of the North", and from this northern base, Richard served his brother as "Lord of the North". Richard lived here until the untimely death of his brother, Edward IV, where he was called south. He only returned to Middleham once after he became king. After his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, Middleham was not ransacked but left to decay and partially demolished by Oliver Cromwell in the seventeenth century.

Through fundraising, the Middleham Restoration Endowment, Inc., a division. of the Foundation, has contributed funds for the repair of the lintels in the northern wall in 1994.  Inn 1996, a copy of King Richard III’s personal standard was presented to the castle where it will be displayed on those poignant Ricardian days where Richard is remembered for his good lordship. In 1997, during the Foundation’s official tour, a chalice was presented to the church where a special service on the birthday of King Richard III was held in celebration of his life.  In 2000, a mass was said for the coronations of King Richard III and Queen Anne Neville.

 

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