Bywell Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bywell Castle |
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| Bywell, Northumberland in England | |
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| Coordinates | 54°57′04″N 1°55′30″W / 54.951°N 1.925°W |
| Grid reference | NZ049618 |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1430 |
Bywell Castle is an old castle located in the village of Bywell, in Northumberland, England. It sits right next to the River Tyne, about four miles east of Corbridge. This historic building is very important. It is recognized as a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a special place that is protected because of its history.
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History of Bywell Castle
Bywell Castle was built a long time ago, in 1430. The powerful Neville family started building it. They were a very important family in England at that time. However, the castle was never fully finished.
Today, you can still see the impressive main entrance, called a gatehouse. It has three stories. There is also part of a strong outer wall, known as a curtain wall. A newer house has been built into this old wall.
Royal Refuge
In 1464, a famous event happened at Bywell Castle. King Henry VI found safety here. He took refuge in the castle after a big battle called the Battle of Hexham. This shows how important and strong the castle was, even though it was not fully completed.
Who Owns Bywell Castle Today?
Bywell Castle is currently owned by a private family. It is the home of the Viscounts Allendale. Because it is a private home, it is not usually open for people to visit.
The Ship Named Bywell Castle
Interestingly, a ship was also named after Bywell Castle. This ship was involved in a very sad event in September 1878. The ship, called the SS Bywell Castle, crashed into another ship, the SS Princess Alice. This happened on the River Thames. The collision caused the Princess Alice to sink very quickly. Many lives were lost in this disaster. Estimates suggest that between 590 and 640 people died.
