Richmond Castle is exceptionally impressive, towering at over 300 ft, it is also one of Britain’s oldest stone keeps. There has been one on this site since 1088 . Richmond was granted to Alan the Red, Count of Brittany in 1071. Alan was a relation of William the Conqueror, a second cousin. His father was Count Odo of Brittany. He was part of Duke William of Normandy’s household and was at the Battle of Hastings commanding the Breton contingent.
As a consequence, Alan was an extremely rich and powerful man – a position that he improved upon when he helped to quell the rebellion in the North in 1069. Click on the image of Richmond Castle to open a new page listing all of Alan’s lands in the Domesday Book. He founded St Mary’s Abbey in York. His power base was the north and his building work demonstrates how important it was for him to make his mark upon the landscape. He also built the first castle at Middleham which was in the hands of his brother. By the time of his death he was the fourth largest landowner in England.