Haughton Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haughton Castle |
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| Built | 13th century |
| Owner | Braithwaite family |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Haughton Castle | |
| Designated | 20 October 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1043027 |
Haughton Castle is a cool old building in Northumberland, England. It's a private home but also a very important historic site. It sits by the River North Tyne, about 5.5 miles north of Hexham. This castle is a "Grade I listed building," which means it's super important and protected because of its history and special design.
Contents
Haughton Castle's Story
Early Days and Design
Haughton Castle was first built in the 1200s. Back then, it was a tower house. This was a strong, tall building used for living and defense. In the 1300s, the castle was made even bigger and stronger. It was owned by the Widdrington family, but another family, the Swinburns, lived there.
Times of Trouble
By the 1500s, the castle started to fall apart. It was attacked by groups called Border reivers. These were raiders who lived near the border between England and Scotland. A report from 1541 said the roof and floors were "decayed and gone." This means the castle was in really bad shape.
New Owners and Rebuilding
Around 1640, the Smith family bought the castle. But even then, it was still mostly a ruin. In the early 1800s, the Smiths decided to fix it up. They hired famous architects like John Dobson. He helped turn the old ruin into a big, fancy mansion.
Later, in 1862, the Crawshaw family took over. They added a new part to the castle, called a west wing, in 1876. This was designed by another architect named Anthony Salvin.
A Castle's Modern Life
During the Second World War, part of Haughton Castle was used as a hospital. Imagine a castle helping people get better!
Today, Haughton Castle is still a private home. It's known as one of the best-preserved "hall houses" in northern England. The Cruddas family owned it from 1888, and now the Braithwaite family lives there. Some people even think this castle is the place mentioned in an old song called "Waters of Tyne."
