Belsay Castle
| Belsay Castle | |
|
Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Belsay Castle | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ084785 |
| Location: | 55°6’7"N, 1°52’8"W |
| History | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | Ruinous |
| Owned by: | English Heritage |
Belsay Castle is a 14th-century mediæval castle situated at Belsay, Northumberland.
The main structure, a substantial three-storey rectangular pele tower with rounded turrets and battlements was constructed about 1370, and was the home of the Middleton family. In 1614 Thomas Middleton built a new manor house attached to the tower.[1] A west wing was added in 1711 but was later largely demolished in 1872 by Sir Arthur Middleton when the remainder of the house was considerably altered.[2]
The castle was abandoned as a residence by the family in the early 19th century when Sir Charles Monck built Belsay Hall close by.[3] It is administered by English Heritage and is opened the public.[4] The interiors were largely removed and it was then used as a ready-made folly, as was fashionable among the aristocracy at the time, serving as setting for garden parties and other entertainments.
The castle today is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.[1]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Belsay Castle) |
- Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens - English Heritage
- "Belsay Castle". CastleUK.net. http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/88/belsaycastle.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- "Belsay Castle". The Gatehouse. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20071214094629/http://www.ecastles.co.uk/philipdavis/English+sites/2408.html. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- Belsay Castle on 'North of the Tyne'
- Find public transport to Belsay Hall - buses stop at Belsay Shops a short walk from the Hall
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Images of England — details from listed building database (238494) Belsay Castle
- ↑ "Belsay Castle". SINE Project, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=25. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ↑ Images of England — details from listed building database (238505) Belsay Hall
- ↑ "Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens". English Heritage. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.13023. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
