Skipsea Castle
Skipsea Castle near Skipsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire is a large and well-preserved motte-and-bailey earthwork castle of the late eleventh or early twelfth century, one of the finest surviving examples of early Norman earthwork castle construction in northeast England. The castle was built by Drogo de la Beuvrière, one of William the Conqueror's companions, and the large circular motte rising to a considerable height above the surrounding flat coastal plain remains clearly visible and accessible. The castle site overlooks Skipsea Mere, a former lake now reduced to a small wetland area, which historically provided additional natural defence for the castle. The East Yorkshire coast at Skipsea is subject to rapid erosion, and the castle stands as an important monument in an area of significant coastal change. The site is managed by English Heritage and freely accessible.