Heaton Castle facts for kids
Heaton Castle is a very old, ruined castle in Northumberland, England. It's close to the Scottish border, sitting high up on the south bank of the River Till. Today, parts of the castle ruins are actually built into the walls of a farm called Castle Heaton.
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History of Heaton Castle
Heaton Castle was once the home of the de Heton family, who got their name from the castle itself. Around 1250, another important family, the de Greys, took over. They rebuilt the castle in 1415, making it a square-shaped fortress.
In 1496, James IV of Scotland decided to attack Heaton Castle. He brought his soldiers and even his cannons! On September 24, 1496, he ordered miners to start tearing down the castle. He even paid his stone masons extra to work through the night to demolish it faster. This attack was part of a bigger invasion of England, sometimes called the "Raid of Ellem." Records from that time even mention the "siege of Heaton."
What the Castle Looked Like Later
By 1541, Heaton Castle was already described as "ruined." However, a report later mentioned a large underground room, or "vault," big enough for a hundred horses! By 1550, the ruins were used as foundations for strong, stone buildings known as "bastles."
Today, you can still see some parts of the old castle. There are two strong supports (buttresses) against a stable wall, and possibly parts of a small tower and a defensive bank. The long, arched vault is also still there. These remaining parts look a lot like a bastle house, which was a type of fortified farmhouse common in border areas.
The Grey Family at Heaton
The Grey family who lived at Heaton Castle were descendants of Hugh de Grey. His ancestor, Anchetil de Greye, was a Norman soldier who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. The Grey family became very important in England, with many branches holding noble titles.
Here are some notable members of the Grey family from Heaton:
- Sir Thomas Grey (died 1344): He was a brave soldier who fought in wars between England and Scotland.
- Sir Thomas Grey (died 1369): This Thomas Grey was famous for writing an English history book called the Scalacronica.
- Sir Thomas Grey (1359-1400): He married Joan de Mowbray, whose mother, Margaret of Brotherton, was the great-granddaughter of King Edward I of England. This shows how well-connected the Grey family was!
- Sir Thomas Grey (1384-1415): He was involved in a plot against King Henry V of England in 1415.
- Sir Thomas Grey (1404-1426): When he was just eight years old, he was promised in marriage to Isabel, who was only three. She was the daughter of a very important noble, the Earl of Cambridge. Around this time, the Grey family moved from Heaton to another estate they owned called Howick.
Many famous people came from this branch of the Grey family. One of the most well-known was Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845). He became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and is even thought to be the person who inspired the famous Earl Grey tea!
Castle Heaton Today
In 2011, the entire Castle Heaton estate was put up for sale for a huge amount of money – £11.5 million! A local newspaper called The Journal described it as one of the best estates to be sold in the North East in recent years.
The estate is a large and beautiful property. It includes a big farm that grows crops, pretty grazing lands along the river, and the main house which sits high up with great views of the river. There are also many other houses on the estate, including a six-bedroom house, a five-bedroom farmhouse, and eleven cottages. The estate is also great for outdoor activities, with places for pheasant shooting, deer stalking, and two miles of fishing for salmon and sea trout on the River Till.
