This would suggest that Pickering Castle was standing between 1100 and
1135, for the king would scarcely have visited the place unless he had had
proper quarters for himself and his suite, and the castle alone could have
afforded this. A record of 1347 mentions the pillory at Pickering, and
suggests a lively scene that took place in the august presence of the Earl
of Lancaster. "William de Kirkby and others conspired amongst themselves
to indict John de Buckton, Hugh de Neville, John de Barton, and others for
that they on Monday, 25th June 1347, took six harts in Pickering Forest
and set up the head of one in the sight of the Earl of Lancaster upon the
pillory in Pickering town, in consequence of which John de Buckton, Hugh
de Neville and John de Barton were taken and imprisoned in Pickering
Castle and suffered great loss of their goods. Afterwards, in the same
town, William appeared in the King's Bench and asked to be allowed to
compound for the offences presented against him, as well as those to which
he had already pleaded as the rest. The request was granted, and he paid
the fine entered in the rolls."

"The jurors of the several wappentakes of Yorkshire presented that David
de Wigan and others on Wednesday, 11th July 1347, violently entered by
night the house of Thomas, Vicar of Ebberston, seized him and led him to
Pickering Castle until he compounded with them for £2, though," adds the
record, "he had never been indicted for any offence" (!) This David de
Wigan must have terrorised the neighbourhood at this time, for he and
others scarcely a week later "seized Adam del Selley Bridge at Selley
Bridge [near Marishes Road Station] and led him with them until he
compounded with them for £4." On the same Tuesday they violently seized
Robert de Sunley at Calvecote and led him to Pickering Castle until he
paid £2. On the 30th July Thomas Oliver of Sawdon was taken in the same
manner and detained for five days. After all this David was summoned and
he pleaded guilty. By trustworthy witnesses, however, it was proved that