HARBOTTLE CASTLE

Northumberland

Although it doesn't look much today, this Castle has as long a pedigree as the more spectacular Northumbrian Castles.  The Castle was founded around 1157 by Odinel de Umfraville.  In 1174 it suffered its first attack from the Scots who badly damaged it.  Soon afterwards Odinel II retook the Castle and his son, Richard, set about rebuilding it.

Not long after that it was damaged again during the Baron's War against King John.  Richard de Umfraville rebuilt once more, only to be ordered by Henry II to restore it to its damaged condition because he had received no licence.  Richard protested and the order was rescinded.

In 1296 the Scots arrived again and after a two day siege took Harbottle Castle and damaged it once more.  The de Umfraville's steadfastly rebuilt and the Castle was garrisoned along with their other property at Prudhoe.  This didn't stop Harbottle Castle falling once more in 1318, this time to King Robert I of Scotland who partially dismantled the Castle.  A couple of years later the English destroyed a lot of what remained on treaty terms with the Scots.  In 1336 an order was granted that Gilbert de Umfraville could "hold in his Castle at Prudhoe all prisoners whom from time beyond memory he had held at Harbottle Castle ... until such time as Harbottle Castle, which has been razed by the Scots, be repaired".

This repair work didn't really kick in until around 1430 and the majority of the remaining stonework today dates from this period, including a very late shell keep.  The de Umfraville line came to an end in 1437 when it passed to the Tailbois family who lost the Castle after they back the wrong side at the Battle of Hexham and the Castle was in Royal hands for many years.  For the next 200 years the Castle was swapped between owners and went through periods of repair and neglect until the Union made its strategic position worthless.

The Castle is privately owned, but access is granted to the land freely.

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2024