Bellister Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bellister Castle |
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| Northumberland, England | |
Bellister Castle
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 Bellister Castle
Location in Northumberland
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| Coordinates | 54°57′40″N 2°28′05″W / 54.961°N 2.468°W |
Bellister Castle is a very old building in Northumberland, England. It's near a town called Haltwhistle. This special place is owned by the National Trust. The castle has two main parts. One part is a grand mansion built in the 1800s. The other part is the ruined remains of a much older tower from the 1300s.
Bellister Castle is important for history. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It is also listed as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building.
Castle History
The castle stands on a small hill. This hill might have been part of an even older castle. This older castle would have been a "motte and bailey" type.
Early Buildings
In the 1200s, a house with a moat around it stood here. A moat is a ditch, often filled with water, for protection. Then, in the 1300s, a strong tower was added to the house. This tower was built at the western end.
Blenkinsop Family
In 1541, a survey was done. It showed that the Blenkinsop family lived in the tower house. The survey said the tower was in "measurable good" condition. This means it was in pretty good shape. The Blenkinsop family also owned Blenkinsopp Castle nearby.
New Owners and Changes
The Blenkinsop family sold Bellister Castle in 1697. After that, many different people owned the castle. Around 1699, the property was made bigger. It became a three-storey house with castle-like features.
Modern Era Changes
A famous architect named John Dobson rebuilt a large part of the castle in 1826. He added an impressive front on the east side. This part also looked like a castle. More changes were made in 1890 and 1905. This was after a big fire in 1901 caused serious damage. The oldest parts of the castle were not repaired. They were allowed to fall apart. That is why they are still ruins today.
