Urgency is not a word often used in connection with old ruins – in their dilapidated way they tend to outlast the pressing issues of the day – but there is a growing feeling among some in Knaresborough that time is ticking down for the town’s castle. That’s because the medieval stronghold is owned by the King through the Duchy of Lancaster, but is run by North Yorkshire Council on a lease that expires in 2032 – just seven years from now. Time is, of course, relative. Seven years is an age in some contexts – it might be two general elections away – but leases can last for 99 or even 999 years, so in terms of property law, seven years is the blink of an eye.