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Castles in the Border Cheviot Hills |
It’s a CASTLE but not as we know it, is a statement proved
by it’s definition in the Oxford Dictionary. ie. chateau, citadel, donjon,
fastness. fortress, keep, mansion, palace, peel, stronghold, tower.
The one word not used with context to our present use of
the word is CAPITAL, as until the Middles Ages (1,000 – 1,500 ad) when most of
our castles were built they were the centre of a empire or kingdom.
Fortified homes or cities were built throughout Europe and
the rest of the World for over three thousand years prior to that, although the
first serious fortifications in Britain were constructed by the Romans during
their 400 year occupation until the fifth Century.
After the Romans left the Border regions north of
Hadrian’s Wall was the centre of inter family kingdom feuding which was to
continue for the next thousand years.
Until the Romans wood was the main material with which to
build a defensive home, after their departure the abandoned stone garrisons etc.
were plundered for the ready prepared building bricks.
Hence the earliest stone bastilles or peel towers are in
the northern border regions, followed in the south of England after the Normans
invaded in 1066. But still built as the capitol of a region from which to attack
and plunder the neighbours and protect the occupants from attack.
Harbottle Castle
North
Northumberland
Located high up the Coquet valley in the Cheviot Hills the ruins of a 12th
century motte and bailey castle are worth a visit to those who venture of the
beaten track in the border hills. Past Rothbury just before Alwinton Harbottle
village is a quiet faming community, there is a car park just past the village
from which one can visit the ruins and Drakes Stone high on the hillside
over looking the village.
Built for Henry II by Odinel d'Umfraville who was based in Prudhoe Castle
on the river Tyne, Harbottle was strategic in protecting cross border trails and
saw much action being captured by Robert the Bruce in 1318 and latterly owned by
Henry VIII, after which it lost it's importance and by 1600's had fallen into
disrepair.
Prudhoe Castle
Tynedale, Northumberland
Built by Robert d’Umfraville after he was granted the
barony of Prudhoe by Henry I and his son Odinel who although brought up under
the Scottish king later sided with Henry the II, when William the Lion’s army
advanced south in 1173.
The Scottish king failed twice to take Prudhoe Castle
during this conflict and was eventually captured by Odinel at Alnwick where he
signed the treaty of Falaise recognising Henry as the Lord of Scotland. Odinel
also built a castle further north in the Cheviot Hills on the river coquet.
The Umfraville line ceased in 1381 with Henry Percy
married Gilbert Umfraville’s widow and took procession after which although
always inhabited Prudhoe Castle fell into ruin until the 19th century
when the 2nd Duke of Northumberland Henry Percy repaired the outer
wall and built a new Manor House within.
Odinel also built a castle
further north at Harbottle in the Cheviot Hills on the river coquet
Etal Castle
near Berwick upon Tweed
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The foundations of Etal Castle were a three tier home,
fortified in 1341 by Robert Manners with a perimeter wall with corner towers and
gatehouse which still remains.
In 1513 the castle was unoccupied and easily taken by
James I of Scotland, when he invaded England eventually resulting in his death
nearby in the Battle of Flodden.
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It became the Crown’s property during the 16th
Century but by the 1600’s with the unification of the English & Scottish Crowns,
Etal had little military value and left to deteriorate.
English Heritage maintain the ruins with a
battle museum to enhance a worth while visit and day out in the local vicinity.
| Norham Castle
Inland of Berwick upon Tweed |
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Norham Castle built in the 12th century by Bishop Ranulph Flambard of Durham, to
command his northern most land and the important crossing point over the Tweed
river.
It was attacked on many occasions and captured by the Scots for a brief period
in 1136, they returned two years later and destroyed it.
It’s strategic value lead to Henry II ordering that it be rebuilt in stone which
the present Bishop did in the 1160s constructing a two tier tower with a cellar.
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It’s location on the border attracted many Scottish invading armies to lay siege
on Norham, for forty days in 1215 and in 1318 Robert the Bruce laid siege to the
12th century keep for a full year returning for seven months the following year.
It was thought impregnable until it captured in 1327 and relinquished the
following year, it was again besieged in 1497 when before retreating the Scots
had inflicted considerable damage with the then huge cannon called Mons Meg
which is available to view in Edinburgh Castle.
It eventually fell due to cannon fire in 1513 when James IV of Scotland took it
by storm, only to loose it and his life nearby in the Battle of Flodden.
It lost it’s strategic role in 1603 when James VI of Scotland ascended to the
English throne becoming James I and unified the two countries
Berwick Castle
North Northumberland Coastal Border Town
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There are remains in Berwick of a Castle dating from the 12th century although
the existing fortifications originate from the 16th century and later.
From 1296 when Edward I of England besieged the castle it changed hands many
times before hostilities ceased between the two countries, possibly seeing more
action than most being on the border and the main crown prized by both sides.
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The purpose-built Barracks now houses museums including "By Beat of Drum" which
depicts the history of the British Army. The Borough Art Gallery and the Kings
Own Scottish Borderers Regimental Museums are also within there.
The original stronghold was used to build more modern barracks, some was cleared
in the 18th Century to make way for the railway station. Only the
White Wall remains which drops from the rail line to the river banks below,
adjacent to steep stairway known as Brakeneck Stairs.
Chillingham Castle
North Northumberland
Chillingham is now a family home which had impressive
fortifications built by Sir Thomas Grey in 1344 when he was given permission to
defend his property. He erected a perimeter wall with four corner towers around
his quadrangle and courtyard.
It was put to use by Sir Robert Ellerker who defended
his property during the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’ in 1536 and made extensive
repairs after the canon bombardment.
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Further modifications were made in preparation for
King James I of Scotland who stayed briefly en-route to his coronation in
England.
Very little of the fortifications remains
after extensive modifications in the 18th & 19th Centuries
into a stately home in more peaceful times. The entire Estate has a perimeter
wall within which the rare Chillingham Castle have been protected from cross
breading, privately owned the estate is open to visitors.
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Edlingham Castle
near Alnwick
Edlingham is located to the west of Alnwick on one of
Northumberland’s most picturesque drives to Rothbury, it was built by John de
Edlingham c.1250 as a two storey home. |
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Sir William de Felton extended the property in 1296
adding a moat and gatehouse for security, his son in 1340 added a tower and
perimeter wall.
During the 15th Century ownership passed to the
Hastings family and then to the Swinburne’s in the 16th Century when
the need for fortified protection was diminishing.
It was deserted by 1650 when it was used as a
farm and is now maintained by English Heritage |
Dunstanburgh Castle
Northumberland Coast
The castle was built by the Thomas Earl of
Lancaster a nephew of King Edward II in the early 14th Century to defend the
harbour of Craster and changed hands four times during the Wars of the Roses in
the 15th Century.
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He was not a favourite of the King and required
protection, he lead a group who captured and executed one of the Kings loyal
followers a Peirs Gaveston. Although later pardoned he continued to oppose the
King and was eventually caught and executed in 1322.
It has a large imposing gatehouse erected in 1362
by John Gaunt a son of King Edward III, it overlooks the approach and internal
courtyard into which to the locals would retreat for protection
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castle during a siege and escaped out to sea by being lowered to a boat below
from the tower named after her. During the Wars of the Roses in the later half
of the 15th Century it was occupied by Lancastrians and was left in
ruins after a heavy cannon bombardment. |
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It is a English Heritage site
accessed by a two kilometer walk along the coast from the Craster a small
fishing harbour which still supports inshore coble fishermen and an Oak
Smokehouse for their fresh herring which produces Kippers for sale daily. |
| Alnwick Castle
Northern
Northumberland Is still privately owned and the home of the present Duke
of Northumberland, unlike some castles which stand high and proud for all to
see. Alnwick is low and concealed from marauding invaders which included the
Scandinavian Norske and Vikings as well as the Scots. |
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The castle by the river Aln was founded in 1096 by the
Norman Baron Yvo de Vescy who was granted the land by William the Conqueror who
was crowned King of England on Christmas day in 1066 after invading from
Normandy earlier that year.
Two hundred years later the Percy family acquired the
castle and estate and started developing it as it is laid out today with a
fortified wall around the town with various entry gates and towers..
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By the mid 18th Century it was mostly derelict
when Sir Hugh Smithson inherited the estate and began a restoration into a grand
stately when he became the first Duke of Northumberland.
Algernon the fourth Duke continued the rebuilding work in
the 19th Century to the state which it remains today. The present
Duke has opened parts of the castle to the public and a cascading water feature
within the walled gardens which is also open to the public.
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Warkworth Castle
Northumberland Coast
| The impressive structure can be seen for miles, built in the 12th Century by
Earl Henry on a high mound over looking the village protected by the Coquet
river on two sides and a moote with a bridge protecting the majestic entrance
gate. Henry was the son David I 'King of Scots' who lost the castle in 1157 when
Henry II took control of Northumberland from the Scots and gave the castle to
Roger Fitzgerald until it was acquired by the Percy family in 1332.
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Although the Percy's ruled most of the North of England owning many
castles including Alnwick Castle only a few miles away, they occupied
Warkworth for extensive periods making many additions to the structure
including a keep in the 1,500's. Powerful as the Percy's were they often feuded with the Crown they lost and
regained Warkworth on many occassions until Henry Percy the sixth Earl left the
castle to King Henry VIII when he died in 1537.
The seventh Earl was executed by Elizabeth I in 1572 after a revolt by the
Kingdoms in the north, which resulted in Warkworth being pillaged and left to
deteriorate.
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Lindisfarne Castle
Holy Island near Bamburgh
St Aidan founded the Monastery with other missionaries
from Iona on Holy Island in 634, it was later destroyed by the Danes in 794 and
abandoned in 875.
The Normans built a Priory for St Cuthbert’s Benedictine
Monks in 1082, the remains of which are in the care of the National Trust and
open to the public with an informative visitors centre.
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The castle stands proud on a rocky knoll overlooking the
sea originated in the 16th Century Castle, it was completed in 1571 to protect
the English Vessels during the war with Scotland.
It lost it’s strategic role in 1603 when James IV
ascended to the English throne and unified the two countries, although a
garrison remained there till the end of the 1800s.
During the 20th Century it was a
private family home in which role it is maintained and opened to the public by
the National Trust. |
Bamburgh
North Northumbrian Coast
Archaeologists have determined that the basalt
mound on which Bamburgh Castle stands upon has been in use since before 100 BC
and was occupied during the Roman period, prior to the first historical mention
in 547 as Bebbanburgh.
Bamburgh was the seat of the Anglo Saxon King Ida
the Flamebearer who made himself King of Bernicia, his grandson Ethelfrith later
became King of Northumbria and gave the castle to his wife Bebba.
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In 627 AD King Edward of Northumberland asked
Paulinus from Rome to preach Christianity to his people, after his death in
a squabble with Pagan enemies his son Oswald brought Aiden from Iona to
found a Monastery on a Lindisfarne island later known as Holy Island in 635
AD. Northumberland was then a centre of learning for
three Centuries until 993 when the Vikings in their longboats approached from
the sea, the fortifications held against three
assaults till it fell and was left in ruins. |
The Norman William Rufus in 1095 captured the
husband of Matilda the Countess of Northumberland, he held him hostage
threatening to blind him until Matilda surrendered the fortress to him.
He built a new stone fortification being the origins of
the present castle which remained impregnable as a loyal stronghold to the crown
against the Scots and insurgence for over four centuries.
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It finally fell during the Wars of the Roses in 1464 to
the Earl of Warwick a Richard Neville who bombarded it with cannons until it
surrendered being, this being the first castle to be captured from artillery
fire.
The ruins fell into disrepair with only the castle keep
still remaining, much of what exists today is quiet modern with restorations
during the 19th Century until it was sold in 1894 to the
Industrialist Lord Armstrong.
Bamburgh Castle remains the home of the Armstrong family,
it is open to the public and houses the Armstrong Museum of Victorian Industrial
Archaeology. |
To visit
Castles On the Northumbrian Coast -
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CLICK HERE - To visit
Castles On the Scottish Border
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