Edlingham Castle

History

Edlingham Castle began as a manor house owned by John of Edlingham by 1174. He built a significant two-story Hall House containing a hall, parlor, chambers, kitchen, bakehouse, brewhouse, and service rooms surrounded by a moat, which was fed by nearby springs.

Given its location in England with proximity to neighboring Scotland, the structure's architecture was greatly influenced by the continual need to protect it from attack during centuries of ongoing conflict characterized by warfare, border raids, and instability. In 1294, Walter of Edlingham sold the manor to Sir William de Felton, who fortified the Hall House by building a palisade wall inside the moat and gatehouse on the north side.

Carved stonework in the ruins.

William's son, also named William, embellished its defenses between 1340 and 1350 by erecting a solar tower south of the hall connected to the Hall House via forebuilding, which included an external door equipped with a portcullis to regulate passage. Additional enhancements included the construction of a gate tower and curtain wall. From this point of time onward, the Hall House was formally considered a castle. Towards the end of the 14th century, the Feltons' heir, John, completed the enclosure walls and enlarged the gatehouse.

The walkway through the ruins.

In 1514, George Swinburne, constable of Prudhoe Castle, purchased Edlingham Castle from the Hastings family, who had inherited it through Elizabeth de Felton. Upon ownership by the wealthy Swinburne family, the castle's purpose slowly changed from defense to comfort. Interestingly, ground floor rooms of the hall were converted to lodging for farm animals. Swinburne's kin owned the castle until the 17th century when the lower chambers of the solar tower and vaulting began deteriorating. By the 1660s, the castle buildings were being dismantled for stone to build nearby farmhouses. Further ruin and theft of stonework continued into the 20th century. The site came into state ownership in 1975, and excavations took place between 1978 and 1982. Portions of masonry were later secured for safety purposes and to prevent further structural collapse.

Castle Highlights

Edlingham Castle is nestled within a valley in Northumberland, England, guarding a passageway through the hills towards Alnwick. Today, little remains of the rampart walls; however, ample stonework of the solar tower exists to comprehend its extensive size.

The medieval Church of St John the Baptist, beside the castle.

Entry to the castle is free and accessible via footpath after parking near the old medieval Church of Saint John the Baptist, which is also worth a visit. As a safety precaution, walk carefully since loose stones, and uneven walkways constitute significant hazards. A thorough visit to both castle and church should only require about an hour. As Edlingham Castle is located close to Warkworth and Alnwick castles, I recommend visiting one of them to complete the day.

Edlingham Castle also has a legend.