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Northumbrian Coastal Castles |
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.
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.
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..
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.
Aydon Castle
near Corbridge and Hadrian’s Wall
Aydon Castle was built by Robert de Reymes in 1296 as a
manor house to live in following a lengthy peace with the Scots. The peace
didn’t last and in 1305 he added defensive battlements which alias didn’t stop
the Scots plundering the castle in 1315 and again in 1346.
The manor house remained occupied over the Centuries and
latterly as a farm for over three hundred years until 1966, since when it has
been restored to it’s medieval appearance and is maintained by English Heritage
for the public to appreciate.
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.
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 centruries.
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.
Berwick Castle
North Northumberland Coastal Border Town
There are remains in Berwick of a Castle dating from the
12th century although the existing fortifications originate from the 16th
century and later. The early purpose-built Barracks now houses museums
including "By Beat of Drum" depicting the history of the British Army. The
Borough Art Gallery and the Kings Own Scottish Borderers Regimental Museums are
also here.
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. 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.
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.
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
Henry VI's wife Margaret was caught within the
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.
It is a English Heritage site
accessed by a two kilometre 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.
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.
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
Etal Castle
Cornhill near Berwick upon Tweed
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.
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.
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.
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.
Norham Castle
Inland of Berwick upon Tweed
Norham and it's castle which overlooks the river Tweed,
it was attacked on many occasions and in 1318 Robert the Bruce laid siege to the
12th century keep for a full year.
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.
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 an revolt by the
Kingdoms in the north, which resulted in Warkworth being pillaged and left to
deteriorate.
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