Chipchase Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chipchase Castle |
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| Northumberland, England | |
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 Chipchase Castle
Location in Northumberland
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| Coordinates | 55°04′32″N 2°11′10″W / 55.0756°N 2.186°W |
Chipchase Castle is a fascinating old building in Northumberland, England. It's a mix of a grand 17th-century home and a much older, strong 14th-century tower. You can find it north of Hadrian's Wall, near Wark on Tyne. It stands between the towns of Bellingham and Hexham. This historic site is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is also a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building.
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The Castle's Story
Chipchase Castle has a long and interesting history, changing hands and looks over many centuries.
Early Days: The Heron Family
The Heron family first gained control of the Chipchase area through a marriage. Walter Heron married the woman who owned Chipchase. In the mid-14th century, he built a huge, strong tower on the site. This tower was four stories tall and had battlements, which are the notched walls on top of castles. This type of tower is called a pele tower, built for defense.
A New Look: The Jacobean Mansion
In 1621, a man named Cuthbert Heron owned the castle. He was an important person, serving as the High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1625. Cuthbert decided to tear down the older house that was there. In its place, he built a beautiful new home in the Jacobean style. This style was popular during the time of King James I. He kept the strong old tower and attached it to his new mansion.
Cuthbert's family faced some tough times. His first son, George, sadly died in 1644 during the Battle of Marston Moor. This battle was part of the English Civil War, where people fought for King Charles I. Cuthbert's second son, also named Cuthbert, was given a special title by King Charles II. However, the family later had money problems. Because of these financial difficulties, the Herons had to sell the estate in the early 1700s.
New Owners and Changes
In 1734, a banker from Newcastle upon Tyne named John Reed bought Chipchase Castle. He made some big changes to the building. He added a classical-style front to the old tower, making it look more grand.
However, John Reed's family bank later failed. This meant his descendants had to sell the estate in 1821 to pay off their debts. The Greys of Backworth then became the new owners of Chipchase Castle.
Chipchase Castle Today
Today, Chipchase Castle is still privately owned. It has a special connection to Paul Torday, a famous author. He wrote the popular novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which was also made into a movie. Paul Torday lived at the castle with his second wife, Penelope. She inherited the estate and worked hard to help manage it.
While the castle itself is usually a private home, parts of it are open to visitors. The beautiful grounds around the castle are open to the public. If you want to see inside the castle, it is open for tours only during the month of June.
