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Castles of Northumberland |
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Once inhabited by Romans, Northumberland has a history of violence and bloody battles. Being right on the Scottish Borders, is was also a place of much conflict between England and Scotland, who both sought to own the territory. Resulting from this long history of unrest are the many Castles built over the centuries to defend the border.
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Alnwick and Bamburgh are two of the better known Castles. Both are Grade 1 listed buildings and are exemplary structures. Alnwick is still inhabited, making it the second largest castle in England to still function is this capacity.
Both are popular places of interest for visitors and perfectly compliment the county’s natural beauty. Aside for these fine buildings, Northumberland boasts a number of wonderful ruins.
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Between Craster and Embleton sits Dunstanburgh Castle, the biggest in the county. Unlike most similar structures, Dunstanburgh didn’t play a significant role in defending the borders from Scottish invaders. Built by the Earl of Lancaster at the beginning of the 14th century the castle did suffer during the War of the Roses in the 15th century and fell into a state of disrepair from which it never recovered. The Scheduled Ancient Monument is now maintained by English Heritage and is considered by many to be a most beautiful ruin. Certainly splendid enough for J.M.W. Turner, the celebrated artist, who repeatedly returned to it as a subject of his paintings.
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Also considered a ruin, though in far better condition, is Warkworth Castle. During a period in the 12th century when Northumberland was part of Scotland, the then wooden structure was built by Henry, Earl of Huntingdon and Northumberland into a ‘motte and bailey’ style fortress. When the county was taken by England, the wooden construction was replaced by stone. For a brief period, it was owned by the Percy Family, who still own Alnwick Castle, but when the Percy family sided with Elizabeth I during the 16th century rising of the northern earls, Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland, was executed and the castle was sacked and looted. Over the following centuries it became a dilapidated ruin.
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Finally, in the 1800s, the third Duke of Northumberland began to restore it. It is now maintained by English Heritage.
These few building are sit among many others, no less beautiful or historical, all of which lend this special county its deserved reputation for beauty and a sense of antiquity.
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