Northumbrian Castles

Northumbria, in the north east corner of England, has many castles, most built originally to protect England's northern border against Scottish invaders. I've picked out four of my favourite castles for you today.

 

Bamburgh

There has been a castle at Bamburgh since the 6th century (Anglo-Saxon times), but the present castle dates from Norman times. During the Middle Ages it was an important Crown stronghold against any invading Scots. Henry VI chose it as the capital of Northumbria, but it fell to the Yorkists in 1464. In the 17th century it was given to the Forster family, and then in the 19th century sold to Lord Armstrong who initiated an extensive reconstruction. It still belongs to the Armstrong family who live in private apartments at the castle.

 

Warkworth

I loved Warkworth. It is probably one of England’s most impressive fortified residence. First built in the 12th century, it was added to in successive centuries. In 1332 it was granted to the Percy family (earls of  Northumberland) but when the third Earl, Henry Percy, was killed commanding the Lancastrian army at Towton in 1461, Warkworth was granted to John Neville (brother of Warwick the Kingmaker) who made the castle his base for campaigns against the Lancastrians in the 1460s. When he died fighting alongside his brother at the battle of Barnet in 1471l the castle was returned to the Percies, but later reverted to the Crown

 

Dunstanburgh

In its magnificent and dramatic setting on a coastal headland, the castle was built by the Earl of Lancaster in the 14th century, and later added to by John of Gaunt who had become Duke of Lancaster following his marriage to the Lancastrian heiress Blanche. When his son became King Henry IV, the castle became a Crown property as well as a Lancastrian stronghold, and was besieged by the Yorkists in in 1462. After the Lancastrian army had been defeated at Hexham in 1464, it’s on record that Richard Neville (the Kingmaker) spent several days at the castle. In the 16th century, it fell into disrepair and was abandoned.

 

Alnwick

Alnwick’s most recent claim to fame is as the film location for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter movies, but its history goes back to the 11th century when it was built to protect England’s northern border against Scottish invaders. At the beginning of the 14th century, the barony of Alnwick was purchased by the Percy family, who later became Earls and then Dukes of Northumberland. Alnwick changed hands several times during the Wars of the Roses but it has remained the property of the Dukes of Northumberland ever since, and the family still live in a part of the castle.