Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh Castles
What to do on a squally day? - we decide to visit two of the great castles / ruins in the area. After all you can usually shelter in a castle if a shower appears.
So, first stop was at the huge Bamburgh Castle. The 6th century Kings of Northumbria established Bamburgh as their capital, building a wooden stockade to create a stronghold on the existing Castle site. After being ransacked by the Vikings at the end of the 10th century, the Normans built a new castle on the site, the core of which remains today, and in the 12th century Bamburgh Castle became the property of Henry I, the reigning English monarch.
Next came the arrival of the Foster family, gifted the ruins by James 1st and then the subsequent acquisition by Lord Crewe and the formation of the Crewe Trustees.
Finally the castle passed into the hands of the First Lord Armstrong, with the intention of creating a respite home he passed away before its restoration was complete and became the Armstrong family home. It is still owned by the Armstrong Family who opened it up to visitors in the mid 1900’s and remains to this day an icon of the North East of England.
As you can see, Bamburgh is a huge place. This image from the road passing through the village. The castle in fact covers around 9 acres in total.
Northern Marsh Orchid seen in the dunes near Bamburgh
The ruins of the twin tower keep of Dunstanburgh Castle. Originally the gatehouse.
Built on the most magnificent scale, Dunstanburgh Castle stands on a remote headland in Northumberland. The walk toward it along the coast is worth it on its own.
The castle was built at a time when relations between King Edward II and his most powerful baron, Earl Thomas of Lancaster, had become openly hostile. Lancaster began the fortress in 1313, and the latest archaeological research indicates that he built it on a far grander scale than was originally recognised, perhaps more as a symbol of his opposition to the king than as a military stronghold.
Unfortunately the earl failed to reach Dunstanburgh when his rebellion was defeated, and was taken and executed in 1322. Thereafter the castle passed eventually to John of Gaunt, who strengthened it against the Scots by converting the great twin towered gatehouse into a keep - see above.
The focus of fierce fighting during the Wars of the Roses, it was twice besieged and captured by Yorkist forces, but subsequently fell into decay.
The Lilburn Tower, Dunstanburgh Castle
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