Situated not far S of the medieval route across the fells to York, the castle stood on high ground to the W of the River Eden, with Hartley Beck and Ladthwaite Beck winding round.
Nothing survives of the medieval residence apart from the earthworks and part of the vaulted cellar to the former kitchen.
A probable performance venue. No Musgrave household records survive but a minstrel under Sir Richard de Musgrave's patronage performed at York in the mid-15th c.
Demolished.
1353 Sir Thomas de Musgrave, who had purchased the manor from Randolf de Neville, 1st Baron Neville (of Raby), received a licence to crenellate. Fortified stone tower built.
ca. 1600 Sir Richard Musgrave enlarged the medieval residence with wings on a quadrangular plan.
ca. 1650 Further additions made.
1677 Musgrave family abandoned Hartley for their residence at Eden Hall. The castle became ruinous.
early 18th c. Demolished by Sir Christopher Musgrave (d 1735) and replaced by 'a nondescript Georgian house' (Woodhouse, 'Smythson Revisited' 38).
REED York 1.67
| Name | Dates | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Musgrave, Richard de | 0-1464 | Knight |
