castle castle 14th century fortification coast northumberland northern england located villages castle built lancaster taking advantage site natural defences existing earthworks fort thomas leader faction opposed king probably intended act secure refuge political situation southern england deteriorate castle served statement earl wealth influence invited comparisons neighbouring royal castle thomas probably visited new castle captured attempted flee royal forces safety thomas executed castle property crown passing defences expanded john duke lancaster light threat scotland peasant uprisings castle maintained 15th century crown formed strategic northern stronghold region wars roses exchanging hands rival factions times fortress recovered campaigns 16th century warden scottish marches described having fallen great scottish border stable military utility castle steadily diminished king james finally sold property private ownership grey family owned centuries increasingly popular subject artists including formed basis poem 1920s castle owner sir longer afford maintain property placed state second world war broke measures taken defend northumberland coastline potential german invasion castle observation post site trenches barbed wire boxes field golf course built property expanded 21st century castle owned run english_heritage ruins protected law grade listed building forming important natural environment birds amphibians built center designed medieval landscape surrounded artificial lakes called covering total hectares acres curtain walls acres making largest castle northumberland prominent castle great gatehouse massive storey fortification considered historians imposing structures english castle multiple rectangular towers protect walls including tower looks castle positioned cove internal complexes buildings ruined supported earl household castle constable household running surrounding estates harbour built south east castle stone survives history 13th century site castle northumberland probably occupied prehistoric times fort defences built location end iron age possibly occupied 3rd century roman period 14th century defences long abandoned land crops formed village lay inland west traditionally owned lancaster origins earliest appearance uncertain versions use time castle construction stem combination local village word meaning fortress early 14th century construction castle constructed thomas earl lancaster thomas immensely powerful english baron second richest man england king major land holdings kingdom turbulent relationship cousin king capture killing edward royal favourite uncertain exactly thomas decided build located strong defensive site distance local settlements strategic sites value thomas held lands northumberland insignificant comparison estates yorkshire paid little attention years following death civil conflict england rarely far away currently believed thomas probably intended create secure retreat safe distance away edward forces south probably hoped erect prominent status symbol illustrating wealth authority challenging king hoped create planned town alongside castle possibly intending relocate population building work castle commenced labourers beginning process moat starting construct castle buildings outer wall built workers feudal thomas operations overseen mason master possibly previously involved construction iron newcastle coal scandinavian wood brought use project end year spent work continued years licence form royal new castle issued castle constable appointed charged defending castle surrounding castle probably complete resulting castle huge protected sea cliffs stone curtain wall massive gatehouse towers outside harbour built south fortress enabling access sea region period suffering activities thieves type border members household harbour represented safer way reach castle land routes loss thomas lancaster little use new castle time visited way north join edward military campaign scotland civil war broke edward enemies barons initial royalist successes thomas fled south intercepted route sir resulting battle thomas captured later executed castle passed royal control edward considered useful fortress protection threat scotland initially managed merchant newcastle protected garrison men arms light horsemen politically member thomas army appointed constable followed sir northumberland turn replaced castle garrison took garrison subsequently increased men predominantly light horsemen formed key northern defences scots castle given thomas brother henry lancaster returning constable continued use defence scottish invasions decades late 14th century castle acquired john marriage henry lancaster granddaughter younger brother duke lancaster wealthiest men generation lieutenant scottish marches visited castle primary strategic target scottish attack positioned away main routes region kept garrisoned scottish wars surrounding manor nonetheless suffered scottish raids concerns condition castle defences ordering building additional fortifications gatehouse surrounding lands castle brought agricultural production time feed growing garrison protect crops scottish attacks peasants revolt broke england targeted rebels especially hated member administration found stranded north england early revolt considered secure function safe haven forced turn instead refused let fearing presence invite rebel attack experience encouraged expand defences years wide range work carried direction constable thomas mason henry including blocking entrance gatehouse turn scottish army attacked castle lacked siege equipment unable defences lost interest property gave role lieutenant marches remained annexed crown son took throne england 15th 16th centuries scottish threat persisted castle constable probably accompanied garrison took inherited throne decades numerous repairs undertaken property buildings outer defences fallen disrepair wars roses conflict rival houses lancaster york broke middle 15th century castle initially held castle constable sir died battle fighting castle formed sequence fortifications protecting eastern route scotland king edward attempted break region sir joint defended castle september surrendered wife margaret invaded england french army landing switched sides declared army dispatched north november joint command worcester sir besieged castle surrendered christmas left charge attempts reconciliation year switched sides returning castle died battle earl castle june following short siege castle probably damaged wars minor repairs spent repairs fell disrepair base piracy roof robbed lead use castle lead timber taken hall described royal report henry_viii house small strength observed gatehouse repairs carried walls sir king receiver survey showed poor condition warden middle eastern marches sir described great report suggested cost restore castle argued far scottish border worth repairing wealthy widow occupied castle probably living gatehouse carried restoration work farming surrounding estate 16th century local farmers bought right use outer bailey castle store cattle event scottish raids price year 17th 19th centuries unification scottish english crowns eliminated need need castle royal fortress following year king james sold castle sir turn sold sir nearby landowner following year son affirmed owner castle grey dynasty maintained ownership castle passed family following law case lands castle outer bailey growing wheat walls robbed stone building work small settlement called built site castle harbour possibly scottish immigrants published castle 18th century including somewhat inaccurate depiction samuel respectively mary descendants owned property heavily 6th earl sold trustees estate late attempts restoration early 19th century gatehouse modified reopened historian undertook castle 1880s publishing comprehensive work professional architectural plan ruins produced nonetheless representative estate expressed concern newcastle condition castle noting poor repair stonework importance ongoing preservation work estate undertaking ruins popular topic artists end 18th century onwards toured region painted castle picture dominated art historian describes forces nature wild waves dark clouds ruins influenced painted castle similarly focused wind waves ancient ruins taking artistic licence view castle reinforce sense isolated turner drew visit produce works sketches 1830s making castle common subjects corpus work 20th 21st centuries golf course constructed alongside castle estate later sold sir wealthy opened additional course castle designed scottish costs maintaining property undertaking years clearance work 1920s placed castle state taking control property archaeological investigations carried clearance work exposing main gatehouse work carried 1930s aerial photography carried ordnance survey shortly outbreak second world war concerns grew british government threat german invasion east coast england bays north castle vulnerable targets enemy amphibious landing efforts castle surrounding area wider line defences erected sir castle occupied unit served observers soldiers appear relied stone walls protection trenches unusually additional firing points cut stonework typically happened surrounding beaches defended lines barbed wire trenches square weapons pits reinforced concrete north south castle partially laid 1st foot wide ditch dug north end moat prevent tanks breaking following track south past castle foot foot wide anti personnel minefield laid south west prevent infantry soldiers castle defences advancing end war barbed wire cleared away beaches local italian prisoners war remnants anti tank ditch trenches weapons pits remain arthur son sir passed estate archaeological surveys carried researchers english_heritage carried major archaeological investigation hectares acres land castle 21st century castle remains owned managed english_heritage site scheduled ancient monument ruins protected law grade listed building lies outstanding natural beauty parts site comprising conservation wild birds encouraged land outside castle remain enable conservation amphibians bird species inside castle protected grazing animals encourage nesting birds architecture landscape landscape castle occupies acre site larger acre body land coast castle situated prominent great geological formation south castle gentle slope low lying ground northern cliffs form natural barrier metre high cliffs punctuated formed weaknesses black rock including famous landscape castle carefully designed 14th century deer park planned borough looked similar contemporary castles leeds particular specific model area castle dominated shallow artificial lakes called accessed gates north west south sides fed fresh water spring feet inland linked underground stone channel originally bounded cast boundary bank ditch today heavily eroded foot inches high main route land castle village acres large blocked northern end cast bank adjacent site southern half takes form foot long moat recorded foot deep medieval period terminating northern mere occasionally floods 21st century creating temporary lake section usually contains standing water west mere covering acres stretches away location blocked far end small stone dam rectangular built alongside smallest probably pond raising young fish fed water lake protective bank probably originally reinforced timber ran approximately feet gatehouse probably built far end lake complex acres size positioned eastern corner harbour built south east castle originally receive building materials later senior members castle household important guests remains harbour foot built frequent use medieval period safely periods good weather west castle later remains south rectangular walls foot inches high siege fortification fact unique survival england period architecture castle buildings located outside fortification outer bailey enclosed stone curtain wall acres making largest castle northumberland possibly start castle certainly castle buildings formed distinct complexes supporting earl household castle constable administration respectively inside bailey shows marks strip farming seen winter southern western parts walls originally faced local sandstone core rubble sandstone sandstone stripped western parts wall sandstone eastern end walls gives way small limestone blocks originally laid foot high foot inches later raised height additional probably wars roses uncertain curtain wall originally extended cliffs northern edge castle moving counter clockwise curtain wall north west rectangular tower looks beach tower named early castle constable built thomas lancaster intended high status residence foot high foot square foot thick walls soldiers ground floor rectangular towers reflects local tradition northumberland similar nearby wall remains small tower called local tradition earthworks inside curtain wall suggest complex buildings stretching south west corner walls castle prominent great gatehouse massive storey fortification comprising drum shaped towers stone originally foot high heavily influenced contains unique features frontal towers considered historians imposing structures english castle gatehouse strengthened foot long rubble foundations survive foot inches high gatehouse protected possibly set wooden gates ground floor contained foot wide spiral corner gatehouse running floor relatively lit chambers probably accommodated garrison officers continued second floor containing castle great hall originally intended use thomas lancaster family towers extended gatehouse lead covered roof additional storeys height giving extensive views surrounding area design influenced construction gatehouse lancaster castle immediately west great gatehouse john gatehouse originally storeys tall surviving foundation level gatehouse replaced great gatehouse main entrance contained porter lodge defended combination foot long inner bailey approximately foot foot defended foot high wall constructed john gatehouse complex comprised vaulted inner gatehouse foot square buildings including kitchen south walls square tower containing comfortable accommodation castle constable including stone window seats inside walls foundations hall chamber built larger complex buildings constable household approximately foot square west small turret projects upper wall unusual feature similar castle mural east small turret single chamber foot foot south east corner walls tower means eagle dialect cove storey square building foot designed house castle official included small gateway castle use castle constable possibly local people gate eastern wall added gateway north eastern corner gave access inside curtain walls foundations yard foot foot large rectangular building usually identified barn probably supported administration estates included chamber facilities interpretation early analysis focused qualities military defensive site recent work emphasised symbolic aspects design surrounding landscape castle intended secure bolt hole thomas lancaster events south england clearly hiding place english_heritage research team pointed spectacular construction located centre huge carefully designed medieval landscape surrounding castle reflected castle walls towers turning virtual island producing historians called awe inspiring beautiful sight different elements castle positioned particular effect unusually huge faced south east away main road hiding extraordinary architectural features thomas intended establish new settlement gatehouse probably intended viewed harbour senior visitors expected arrive positioned clearly visible castle miles away coast framed great gatehouse visitors positioned set natural pillars build enhanced dramatic appearance reflection design castle alluded mythology popular set ideals beliefs english ruling classes time thomas appears interest legends pseudonym king arthur correspondence scots ancient fort center encircled water allusion turn thomas claim political authority failing similar contemporary depictions sir castle garde folklore castle closely associated legend sir guy early 19th century different versions story vary slightly details typically involve knight sir guy arriving castle met wizard led inside comes noble lady imprisoned inside crystal tomb guarded sleeping army wizard offers guy choice sword hunting horn help free lady incorrectly chooses horn wakes sleeping knights sir guy finds outside castle spends rest life attempting find way inside unclear story emerged similar stories possibly inspired medieval legends exist nearby locations wrote poem sir guy story subsequent versions produced tale continues told local oral tradition oral traditions castle survive involves child prisoner castle escaped throwing key dungeon nearby field argued land north west castle onwards centres man called left charge castle margaret entrusted set captured escaped later returned reclaim glasses historian katrina noted 14th century records receivers castle called potentially linked origins story local stories tunnels stretching tower tunnel running castle west castle stories linked presence drainage system castle
Dunstanburgh Castle