Once the impregnable stronghold of the De Thweng’s, Kilton Castle fell into disrepair and by 1347 had only one occupant – Catherine de Thweng, a widow – and later in the same century, it was described as being totally abandoned. Even less of Kilton castle exists today, despite its Ancient Monument status. Peter Appleton provided information regarding the de Thweng’s: “In 1272, Peter de Brus III died without male heir. His four sisters became co-heiresses of the de Brus estates in north-east Yorkshire. Lucia de Brus married Marmaduke de Thweng and had, as her portion of the estates, the manors of Yarm, Danby and Brotton. The latter included the township of Kilton. Her older sibling, Agnes, received the manors of Skelton, Marske, Upleatham and Kirkleatham, whilst her younger siblings, Margaret and Laderina, received respectively, the barony of Kendal and the manor of Carlton-in-Cleveland.”
Image (courtesy of John G. Hannah) from “Views of Loftus-in-Cleveland and Neighbourhood” published by J. F. Cooke. Apologies for incorrectly quoting Lucy de Thweng. Thanks to Peter Appleton for the update regarding the de Thweng’s.
The reference to child bride Lucy, when Googled, takes you into a women’s rights story worthy of a mini series.