The town of Helmsley, like many towns in the venerable and stately county of North Yorkshire, perfectly evokes the image of England as it used to be. In other words, Helmsley is one of the more classically British towns in the United Kingdom and a walk through Helmsley will almost certainly make you feel as if you are transported back into the days of the Middle Ages.
This isn't to say that Helmsley is archaic and backwards, though. On the contrary, Helmsley is undoubtedly steeped in the present and the residents of this quirky city are abreast of all current events. The town is even a popular motorcycle destination as it is right near the B1257 motorway. It is just a short distance from Helmsley to Stokesley which is itself an even more popular motorcycle town. All the same, one can't deny the fact that Helmsley also has some fantastic sights and diversions from years gone by. Helmsley Castle is likely the most prominent of these historical relics and the ruins of the castle are still visible in town from nearly every spot.
Interestingly enough, Helmsley Castsle was in fact built originally of wood. The year was 1120 and Walter I'Espec was the powerful baron who constructed the mighty edifice. It would be another sixty years until the heirs of I'Espec would convert the castle to stone after his death. This would still place Helmsley Castle as one of the preeminent stone castles built before the 1200s, a time when castles were still works in progress as far as design and structure go. Though the history of the castle is interesting at all turns, the story really heats up in the late 1400s when the castle was sold to the Duke of Glouchester or, as he is more commonly known, Richard III. The famed Shakespearean anti-hero owned this castle all the way up to his death in the fateful battle that has been documented countless times throughout history. Sadly, the castle suffered quite a bit of damage during the incredibly destructive English Civil War. Though Helmsley Castle does not stand as wholly as it once did, it is still an imposing and proud monument to the people who called Helmsley home centuries ago.
Keeping in the tradition of tragedy befalling this lovely burg, Helmsley was also the victim of a notoriously bad flash flood back in 2005. Much of the town was left in shambles but the citizens of Helmsley performed valiantly in the face of such strife and helped to ensure that damage was kept to a minimum. Notable landmarks like the 1812 Theatre Company and Rievaulx Abbey were spared from major flood damage and are thus able to be visited today in much of their original sheen. This is a testament to the people who live in Helmsley and how much they appreciate living in such a gorgeous and inviting town. A visit to Helmsley will clue you in to why they feel that way and it is truly a loss that every town isn't as lovable as this slice of heaven.
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