Throwback Thursday!

Throwback Thursday!

This week I'm taking you to Warkworth Castle, which is located 36 miles down the road from my hometown of Berwick-upon-Tweed!

 

Warkworth Castle is a ruined medieval building in the town of Warkworth, located in Northumberland. The town and castle occupy a loop of the River Coquet, less than a mile from England's north-east coast.
 

 

Warkworth Castle was first documented in a charter of 1157–1164 when Henry II granted it to Roger fitz Richard. The timber castle was considered "feeble" and was left undefended when the Scots invaded in 1173.

 



The earliest record of Warkworth was in the eighth century but there was no castle until the twelfth century. The first building was probably a wooden construction. It was built by Henry the son of King David I of Scotland who owned the land at that time. Henry had the title "Earl Henry of Northumberland" at a time when the North of England was part of Scotland.

 

In the late 19th century, the Dukes refurbished Warkworth Castle and Anthony Salvin was commissioned to restore the keep. Alan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland, gave custody of the castle to the Office of Works in 1922. Since 1984, English Heritage has cared for the site. The Castle is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

 

Warkworth Castle is an irregular enclosure. The keep is at the north end, overlooking the town, with the bailey to the south. The current keep was built on an earlier mound, known as a motte. The curtain wall of the bailey dates from the early 13th century.



 

There are four towers: Carrickfergus Tower in the south-west corner, Montagu Tower in the south-east, a postern tower in the west wall (north of the kitchen), and Grey Mare's Tail Tower attached to the east wall.



Against the east curtain wall was a stable. In the northern half of the bailey, aligned east–west, was an unfinished 15th-century collegiate church; it was cleared away in the early 16th century. Immediately west of the church was the kitchen, situated in the angle of the curtain wall as it changes from its north–south alignment and turns towards the keep.



Along the west curtain wall, south of the kitchen, were the pantry, great hall, and withdrawing chambers. In the south-west was a chapel.^[43] Apart from the north side, the castle was surrounded by a moat.( For more info: ^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warkworth_Castle )}



Mum and Dad

Me and Dad!

Me in front of the Keep!


Thanks for Reading!

Claire
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