Ravensworth Castle (Tyne and Wear) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ravensworth Castle |
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| Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England | |
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 Ravensworth Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°55′35″N 1°38′19″W / 54.9264°N 1.6387°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruined |
Ravensworth Castle is an old, ruined castle located in Lamesley, Tyne and Wear, England. It is a very important historical site. This castle has been built and rebuilt many times over the years. It was once the main home of the Liddell family, who were known as the Ravensworth barons.
Contents
The Story of Ravensworth Castle
How the Castle Began
Ravensworth Castle might have started as a single tower around the year 1315. This tower was likely added to a manor house that was already there. Over the 1300s, more towers were slowly added to the castle.
Early Owners and the Liddell Family
Some of the first owners of the castle included families like Fitz-Marmaduke, Lumley, and Gascoigne. In 1607, a rich merchant from Newcastle upon Tyne named Thomas Liddell bought the castle.
The Liddell family owned Ravensworth Castle for the next 300 years. A lot of their wealth came from coal mining on their land, which started in the early 1600s.
Changes to the Castle Over Time
In 1724, Sir Henry Liddell built a large house near the castle. However, this house was torn down in 1808 by Sir Thomas Liddell. He then built a new, grand house in a style called Gothic Revival architecture. This style made new buildings look like old medieval castles.
A very famous person, the Duke of Wellington, visited the castle in October 1827. Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, who was Sir Thomas Liddell's daughter, wrote about visiting the castle in 1831 when she was a child.
Why the Castle Became a Ruin
Around 1935, the Liddell family started mining for coal directly under the house. Because of this, they began to tear down the building around the same time. The plan was to use the old parts of the house to build a new "model village."
However, World War II started, and only three houses were ever built. Most of the main house was torn down by 1953, leaving the castle as the ruin we see today.
Ravensworth Castle on TV
The castle was shown on a BBC television show called Restoration. This show featured old buildings that needed to be saved and restored. A book was also made about all the places shown in the series, including Ravensworth Castle.
