Sheriff Hutton Castle is a 14th century stone quadrangular fortress, founded by Lord John Nevill, of Raby. In 1382, King Richard II granted John a licence to enclose with a wall of stone and lime and crenellate, a plot in his own ground. The successor to the earlier ringwork castle, it consisted of ranges of buildings around a central courtyard, with towers of four or five storeys on the angles. In a ruinous condition by 1618, farm buildings now stand in what was outer ward. Entrance to the inner ward, is through an early 15th century four-centred archway, with four heraldic shields of the Nevills, over a first floor window. A poorly aligned gate tower and the south-east tower defend the gateway but sadly of the internal ranges, only cellars and the ground floor, tunnel vaulting of the towers remain. 8 miles north-west is Crayke Castle and 11 miles south is York Castle.