DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE

Northumberland

This monumental ruin has one of the most breathtaking of settings, surrounded on two sides by steep cliffs, it is a gaunt but massive ruin and is Roy's favourite English Castle.

The Castle was begun by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster around 1315.  He had been in constant opposition to King Edward II for some years and refused to supply forces for Bannockburn (where Edward's army was "sent homewards to think again").  In 1322 Earl Thomas was captured by the King's men at Boroughbridge in Yorkshire, taken to Pontefract Castle and hastily executed.

The Castle passed to the Crown briefly but was returned to the Duchy of Lancaster in 1324. When Earl Henry died in 1345 the Castle passed to John of Gaunt who was an inveterate Castle builder and completely re-vamped Dunstanburgh, adding the massively strong gatehouse-cum-keep which dominates the Castle today (pictured above).  John of Gaunt's son, Henry Bolingbroke (see Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire) became Henry IV and the Castle became a Royal property once more.

Repairs were undertaken in 1428 and it became one of the centres of fighting during the Wars of the Roses.  It was first taken by King Edward IV (Yorkist) in 1461 who then lost it to the Lancastrians in October of the same year before retaking it once more that same December. The Lancastrian constable of the Castle was Sir Ralph Percy who was allowed to retain his position, but then turned traitor (again, again) and allowed the Lancastrians to retake the Castle early in 1462.  They stayed until 1464 but during this whole period Dunstanburgh Castle was badly damaged.

The Castle remained occupied for many more years, but its exposed position meant it soon succumbed to ruination, with the whole of the east wall disappearing into the sea. Early in the 19th century some restoration work was carried out, and in 1930 it passed to the Government who shored up what remained.

Today the Castle is owned by English Heritage and is open all year.

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