Edlingham Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edlingham Castle |
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| Northumberland, England | |
Edlingham Castle
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 Edlingham Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°22′36″N 1°49′06″W / 55.376755°N 1.818420°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | English Heritage |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
Edlingham Castle is a small, ruined castle in Northumberland, England. It's looked after by English Heritage. This historic site is found in a quiet valley, west of Alnwick. Experts have called it one of the most interesting castles in the area.
Today, most of the castle is in ruins. However, a tall part called the solar tower still stands. You can also see the foundations and parts of the walls of other buildings. These include the main hall, the gatehouse, and a barbican (a type of fortified gateway). Most of these parts were built in the 1500s.
This castle was actually a fortified manor house. This means it was a large house built to be strong and defendable. Many homes like this were built in the North of England during the Middle Ages. Edlingham Castle helped protect one of the few ways into Alnwick through the hills. Its defenses were made stronger because of the many battles between England and Scotland. These fights, known as border warfare, happened between about 1300 and 1600.
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History of Edlingham Castle
The story of Edlingham Castle begins a long time ago. In 1174, a person named John of Edlingham owned a manor house here. Later, in 1294, one of his family members, Walter of Edlingham, sold it. The new owner was William de Felton.
Building Stronger Defenses
William de Felton made the house much stronger. He built thick walls called ramparts and a special entrance called a gatehouse. He also added more buildings inside a courtyard. The main hall was also made more secure.
In 1396, Elizabeth de Felton inherited the castle. She married Sir Edmund Hastings. He added the strong solar tower that you can still see today. A solar tower was a private living area, often for the lord or lady of the castle.
Later Owners and Decline
The Hastings family lived at the castle for many years, until 1514. After them, George Swinburne bought the castle. His family owned it until the 1700s. During this time, the castle slowly started to fall apart. Many of its stones were even used to build nearby farmhouses in the 1660s. Luckily, the solar tower was left standing.
Modern Discoveries and Care
In 1978, the government took over the site. They started big archaeological digs. This is when experts carefully dig up old sites to find out more about the past. Before these digs, the solar tower was filled with rubble almost three meters high!
Today, English Heritage looks after Edlingham Castle. It's easy to visit, and it's right next to the historic church of St John the Baptist, Edlingham. William de Felton, who made the castle stronger, is buried there. You can find information boards at the site. More detailed leaflets are available at the church for a small donation.
