Middleham was Richard III’s northern stronghold; he grew up learning knightly skills at the castle here and married Anne Neville in the town. His parish church, St Mary and St Alkelda’s, stands a short step from the castle ruins, its architecture mainly 14th and 15th century. The unusual second dedication is to St Alkelda, a local saint of legend, shared with only one other church, at Giggleswick. Open daily. Northallerton is the nearest station, a fair way east.
