Skipsea Castle is an impressive Norman earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by Drogo de Beauvriere. Standing on an island in Skipsea Mere and completely encased by a ditch, with a counterscarp bank, is the large 11th century motte. A wooden causeway once crossed the mere, to the large crescent shaped bailey, which is strongly defended by an inner and outer ditch and rampart. In the 12th century, William le Gros founded the stone castle, with the motte supporting a shell keep and a gatehouse but sadly only fragments of a wing-wall remain. This unusual castle was finally abandoned in the 14th century, after being destroyed in 1221, by the order of King Henry III. 7 miles north-west is Burton agnes Manor House and 11 miles north-west is Driffield Castle.