Harbottle Castleis a ruined medieval castle situated at the west end of the village ofHarbottle,Northumberland,England,9 miles (14 km) west-north-west ofRothburyoverlooking theRiver Coquet.It is aScheduled Ancient Monumentand aGrade I listed building.
| Harbottle Castle | |
|---|---|
| Northumberland,England,UK | |
 Ruins of Harbottle Castle | |
  Harbottle Castle Location inNorthumberland | |
| Coordinates | 55°20′13″N2°06′32″W/ 55.337°N 2.109°W |
| Grid reference | NT932048 |
It is thought that the mound on which the keep stands was a site used by the ancientBritons,and that inAngliantimes, there was a stronghold on the site held by Mildred, son of Ackman. The present castle was built about 1160 by theUmfravillefamily at the request ofKing Henry IIon land awarded to them following theNorman Conquest,presumably as a defence against theScots.
Not long after its erection, in 1174, it was taken by the Scots and was then rebuilt more strongly. In 1296, it wasbesiegedby Robert de Ros, and some 40,000[citation needed]men, but the siege by the supporters ofJohn Balliolwas withstood.[1]In the 1310s,Robert the Brucecaptured the castle. It was restored in 1336,[2]but was in ruins again by 1351. It was repaired at the end of the 14th century, and in about 1436 the castle passed into the hands of the Tailleboys. It was for a long time the residence of the Warden of the Middle Marches and used as a prison.
In 1515,Margaret Tudor,the widowed queen of KingJames IV of Scotlandand sister of KingHenry VIII of England,having been banished by theregent,John Stewart, Duke of Albany,came to the castle with her second husband,Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus.There, their daughter was born, who was also calledMargaret.Margaret Douglas was to become the mother ofLord Darnley,the second husband ofMary, Queen of Scots,and grandmother of KingJames VI of Scotland and I of England.Further building work took place between 1541 and 1551 and more repairs were made in 1563 and in 1585.[3]
In 1605, King James I granted the castle and manor toGeorge Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar,Lord Treasurer of Scotland, but thereafter, the castle fell into decay and much of its masonry was used in other buildings. A survey of 1715 reported the castle to be ruinous once more. Today, only earthworks and some standing masonry remains. The site is run by theNorthumberland National ParkAuthority and entry to it is free.[citation needed]
Confusingly, following the abandonment of the castle as a residence, the name Harbottle Castle was reused as follows:
- Harbottle Castle(grid referenceNT93234796) is also the name of a 19th-century mansion house situated at the east end ofHarbottlevillage.
Stone from the derelict medieval castle was used in the building of a 17th-century manor house. The manor was acquired by Percival Clennell in 1796, and in 1829, the house was replaced on the site with a two-storied five-bayed mansion designed by architectJohn Dobsonfor Fenwick Clennell. The house is protected withGrade II listed buildingstatus. The stable block was converted into a separate house in 1890.[citation needed]
Photos of castle ruins
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References
edit- Structures of the North East
- Listed Buildings in Harbottle[permanent dead link]
- Harbottle Castle 1
- Harbottle Castle 2
- Fry, Plantagenet Somerset,The David & Charles Book of Castles,David & Charles, 1980.ISBN0-7153-7976-3