CHIPCHASE CASTLE

Northumbria

An early tower house was built just south of today's Castle by either the de Umfravilles or the de Lisles in the late 12th or early 13th century.  As recently as 1897 the "rude foundations of a small fort" were still visible.

The present towerhouse (which forms the north west angle of the building (picture centre)) is attributed to Walter Heron with a date of the mid 1300s.  The first documented mention of the Castle is not until 1415 when it was held by Alexander Heron.  In 1541 it was described as having a "manor of stone work" attached to it, but this was knocked down in 1621 when Cuthbert Heron built the current mansion.

The nearby Chipchase Castle Gardens are quite attractive and you can walk right up to the north west tower, however, the picture above is just about the only view that you can get which is worth photographing!

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2001