A wooden motte and bailey castle was built by William Tyson, lord of Alnwick in the 11th century, on the site of the Roman fort of Derventio Brigantum.

The castle was held against King John of England, during the First Barons' War.

[4] After the battle of Old Byland the castle was captured and destroyed by King Robert I of Scotland in 1322.

Only the former gatehouse and some short sections of original medieval curtain wall still exist.

[7] In 1674 they fell out over ownership and took their argument to the County Sheriff, who destroyed the house and put the stones into two equal piles for the sisters to share.