Hayton Castle

[4] Hayton Castle is the centre of a small manor within the baronetcy of Allerdale, whose families have featured prominently in the history of Cumberland.

[5] From the Hayton's, this manor passed by a succession of female heirs to Robert de Mulcaster, through his marriage to an heiress of the powerful Lucy family.

This line possessed the manor for five generations, but through the failure of the male issue it passed to Piers Jeffrey Tilliol, by his marriage to the heiress.

Colville died in 1438 and his line came to an end in 1479, once more with two daughters, who both married younger sons of Sir Thomas Musgrave (1417–1469) of Hartley Castle.

[6] It was from this marriage of Margaret Colville and Nicholas Musgrave (1450–1506), fourth son of Sir Thomas, that sprang the line through which the manor was handed down for fourteen generations, lasting about 300 years.

[7] After William's death the title went to his younger brother Sir Thomas Musgrave 7th Baronet (1737–1812), a general in the British Army.

Among past tenant farmers since that time we find, the Reverend Isaac Robinson, 1916; John Blackburn and his son 1828; John Blackstock, Nancy his widow 1882; Thomas Biglands, a well-known sportsman, tenant until 1903, when the property was purchased by David Mitchell, whose family retain the property today.

Mitchell came from Scotland, having recently returned from South Africa, where he had served in the British Army for three years during the Anglo Boer War.

Sir Piers de Tilliol apparently preferred to live at Scaleby and as such left no mark at Hayton, leaving most of the building and alterations which gave the castle its present-day appearance to the Musgrave family.

[5] Hayton Castle is one of several places in Cumberland which offered hospitality to Mary, Queen of Scots and it is said that she spent a night here on 17 May 1568.

[10] On leaving she presented her host with a miniature painting of herself, forming the centre of a plain gold ring, a treasure that passed through many generations.

The crest of the Musgrave's consists of two arms in armour, hands gauntleted proper and grasping an annulet which may represent Hylton.

This slab in an old window in the east wall bears the following inscription:- According to some observers this refers to an oratory in the castle itself.

Sir Edward Musgrave, created a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1638 was an ardent Royalist, and spared neither his person nor his fortune in this cause.

[5] Hayton Castle is one of several places in Cumberland which offered hospitality to Mary, Queen of Scots and it is said that she spent a night here on 17 May 1568.

On leaving she presented her host with a miniature painting of herself, forming the centre of a plain gold ring, a treasure that passed through many generations.