Cartington Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cartington Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Cartington, Northumberland, England | |
.jpg) |
|
 Cartington Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 55°20′06″N 1°56′24″W / 55.335°N 1.940°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Events | English Civil War |
Cartington Castle is an old castle in Northumberland, England. It is mostly in ruins today, but some parts have been repaired. The castle sits near the River Coquet in a small place called Cartington. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) north-west of Rothbury.
This historic site is very important. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which means it is protected by the government. It is also a Grade I listed building, showing it is a building of special historical interest.
Contents
What is Cartington Castle?
Cartington Castle is a medieval (Middle Ages) castle. It has seen many changes over hundreds of years. Today, it stands as a reminder of England's past.
Early History of the Castle
The first known owner of Cartington Castle was Ralph Fitzmain in 1154. This shows the castle has been around for a very long time!
Later, in the late 1300s, a strong tower called a pele tower was built. These towers were common in this area. They helped protect people from attacks, especially from Scottish raiders.
In 1442, John Cartington made the castle much bigger. He added a large hall and a courtyard with towers for defense. He was given special permission to "crenellate" his home. This means he could add battlements (the notched walls on top of castles) for protection.
Royal Visits and Military Use
Cartington Castle was once a stopping point for important people. In November 1515, Margaret, Queen of Scots, stayed here. She was traveling from Scotland to London with her baby daughter, Margaret Douglas.
Almost ten years later, in 1525, Lord Dacre used the castle. He stationed his troops here as they marched north to join the Earl of Surrey. This shows the castle's importance as a military base.
The English Civil War
The castle played a big part in the English Civil War. This war (1642-1651) was fought between the King (called the Royalists or Cavaliers) and Parliament (called the Parliamentarians or Roundheads).
Cartington Castle was a major center for the Royalist side. In 1648, Sir Edward Widdrington led 2,000 Royalist soldiers and 200 horsemen from the castle. They fought bravely against a siege (when an army surrounds a place to take it) by Parliament's soldiers.
Even though they fought for over two hours, the castle was eventually captured. The Parliamentarians then "slighted" the castle. This means they deliberately damaged it so the King's forces could not use it again.
Abandonment and Restoration
After the Civil War, parts of the castle were destroyed. However, people continued to live in the castle until the 1860s. By then, it was mostly abandoned and falling apart.
In 1887, a wealthy man named Lord Armstrong stepped in. He partially restored the castle. His goal was to stop it from completely falling down. Thanks to his efforts, parts of Cartington Castle still stand today.
