Structure Name: Edlingham Castle

Description:
 

Ruins of a fortified manor house, including hall, solar tower, courtyard buildings, gatehouse and curtain wall. The solar tower and turreted southeast corner of the rectangular hall are the only remains that survive above two metres high. The courtyard and elements of the gatehouse also survive.

The hall would have been rectangular with two storeys, and an octagonal turret at each corner, with solar tower to the south and courtyard ranges of domestic utility buildings to the north and northeast.
 

Extant: Yes

Legal Status: Listed Building Grade I, Scheduled Ancient Monument

Location: Edlingham Castle, NORTHUMBERLAND

Eastings: 411610m (view map)

Northings: 609200m (view map)

Position Accuracy: 20m

Positional Confidence: Absolute Certainty

Structure Types Identified: BAILEY, BARMKIN, FORTIFIED MANOR HOUSE, GATEHOUSE, MOAT, PELE TOWER, TOWER HOUSE

Historical Background
 

The manor of Edlingham was bought from Thomas de Edlingham in 1295 by William Felton, and remained in the hands of the Feltons until purchased in 1514 by the Swinburne family, who rebuilt the courtyard ranges. The Swinburnes left in 1630, and by 1661 the castle is reported to be largely dismantled. A survey of the early 18th century says the castle was by this time ruined.

Edlingham Castle is now in the guardianship of English Heritage.
 

Chronology:

• 1295 - 1300   Construction of hall house for William Fenton.
      Entities Involved:
            Fenton, William: Ordered construction of hall.
• MID 14TH CENTURY   Construction of gatehouse and curtain wall to replace defensive earthwork. Three storey solar tower added to hall house.
• 16TH CENTURY AD   Wooden courtyard ranges replanned in stone by the Swinburne family.
      Entities Involved:
            Swinburne family: Owners of Edlingham Castle.
• 1661   Parts of Edlingham Castle are pulled down for stone.

References:

• Images of England
• Keys To The Past
• Northumberland SMR
• Pevsner, N., Richmond, I., Grundy, J., McCombie, G., Ryder, P. and Welfare, H. (2001) The Buildings of England: Northumberland. London, Penguin Books, pp.263-264

The information displayed in this page has been derived from authoritative sources, including any referenced above. Although substantial efforts were made to verify this information, the SINE project cannot guarantee its correctness or completeness.

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