Thirlwall Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thirlwall Castle |
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| Northumberland in England | |
Thirlwall Castle in 2011
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 Thirlwall Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°59′20″N 2°31′55″W / 54.989°N 2.532°W |
| Grid reference | Ny660661 |
| Type | Castle |
Thirlwall Castle is an ancient castle located in Northumberland, England. It sits right next to the River Tipalt, close to the village of Greenhead. This castle was first built way back in the 12th century.
What makes Thirlwall Castle extra cool is that it was made stronger using stones taken from the famous Hadrian's Wall nearby! Even though it started to crumble in the 1600s, it's now a protected site. It's known as a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
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A Look Back: Thirlwall Castle's Story
Thirlwall Castle was once the home of the Thirlwall family. Around the year 1330, a man named John Thirlwall made the castle even stronger. This was important for protection during those times.
In 1542, a report said the castle belonged to Robert Thirlwall. It was described as being in "measurable good" condition, meaning it was still in pretty good shape.
The Brave Sir Percival Thirlwall
One famous member of the family was Sir Percival Thirlwall. He was a knight who fought in a very important battle called the Battle of Bosworth. This battle happened on August 22, 1485.
Sir Percival was fighting for the Yorkist side and was the King Richard III's standard-bearer. This meant he carried the king's flag into battle. He was incredibly brave, holding up the flag even after he was badly injured. Sadly, he was killed during the battle.
What Happened Next: The Castle's Later Years
Over time, the Thirlwall family line came to an end. The last person from the family to live there was Eleanor Thirlwall. She left the castle as her home.
In 1738, Eleanor married Matthew Swinburne, and the castle estate went to his family. However, the Swinburne family didn't keep it for long. In 1748, they sold the entire estate to the Earl of Carlisle for £4000.
The Castle Falls Apart
After being sold, Thirlwall Castle slowly began to fall apart. It wasn't lived in anymore, and nobody was taking care of it. There were even big parts of the castle that collapsed in 1832 and again in 1982. Imagine how much of it must have been gone by then!
Saving Thirlwall Castle Today
Luckily, in 1999, the Northumberland National Park Authority stepped in. They took over looking after the castle. Their goal was to protect it and stop it from crumbling away completely.
Thanks to their efforts, Thirlwall Castle is now safe from further damage. The best part is that it's open to everyone! You can visit the castle for free and explore its ancient ruins. It's a great place to imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago.
