Hylton Castle

At one time it was one of the finest castles in England. Hylton Castle was built in the 1400's by Sir William de Hylton. Built in the shape of a gatehouse it was designed for comfort than defence. The castle is now an empty shell and can only be viewed from the outside, this no doubt is to safe guard the ghost hunters who visit the castle. One of the features that can still be seen are the coats of arms of various local families carved in the stone walls of the castle. They include the Hyltons, Percys, Greys, Eures, Lumleys and the Washingtons. On the Washington coat of arms were three stars and two bars and it is believed that George Washington adapted the coat of arms to design the stars and stripes flag for the United States. The castle does not stand alone, just to the north east stands the remains of the Chapel of St Catherine, in which some members of the Hylton family were buried.

Hylton Castle 1728. Hylton castle is now more famously known for its ghost the Cauld Lad of Hylton who is said to haunt the castle. In the 1550's a stable boy Robert Skelton was said to have been caught sleeping instead of working by the Baron Robert Hylton, and in a fit of rage the Baron picked up a pitch fork struck the boys head and killed him. The baron was granted a full pardon in 1609. The staff of Hylton Castle would sometimes say they had seen or heard the Cauld Lad, some even said he carried his head around under his arm. Being a young boy and a ghost he was mischievous and enjoyed throwing dishes around, but he would only do this if the servants had left the kitchen tidy.

If they had left it untidy the ghost would clean up for them, so naturally the servants would more often than not leave the kitchen untidy. It is also said that sometimes the Cauld Lad would get bored with the castle and go down to the river and sail the Hylton ferry by impersonating the boatman. After taking the passengers fares he would leave them stranded in the middle of the river.

Hylton Castle in the winter It was said that the ghost of the Cauld Lad was put to rest when the Hylton Castle servants gave him a green cloak and a hood which they lay before the kitchen fire. The servants sat waiting and at midnight the ghost appeared took the cloak and hood and as he started disappearing his last words could be heard.

"Here's a cloak and here's a hood The Cauld Lad o' Hylton will do no more good".