The Earl of Lennox at Whorlton Castle.

The Earl of Lennox at Whorlton Castle.

Base traitor to his country! This vile Earl
Did seek to desolate his native land,
When it our English Blackbeard did withstand;
Proving himself less noble than the churl
Who only sought to lead a quiet life. 5
Our Cleveland was dishonoured when its King
Gave Whorlton Castle to this worthless thing,
Granting his royal neice to him for wife.
Great, too, the error when the lovely Queen
Of Scots allow’d the exile to return 10
Unto the land which he had made to mourn
That such a traitor there had ever been.
Had men in Whorlton’s strongest donjon cell
Caged up the brute for life, it had been well.

George Markham Tweddell

"The castle was established in the early 12th century at the edge of Castle Bank, a ridge between the villages of Faceby and Swainby, overlooking a small valley through which the road between Thirsk and Stokesley runs. In the 13th century it was referred to variously as Hwernelton or Potto Castle (the village of Potto is part of the same parish). At the time of the Domesday Book, Whorlton was recorded as belonging to Robert, Count of Mortain, the half-brother of William the Conqueror. It subsequently passed to the de Meynell family, who founded the castle." More here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whorlton_Castle