MORPETH CASTLE

Northumbria

There are two Castles in Morpeth.  The first, a motte and bailey almost completely concealed by a public park was constructed around 1090 by William de Merlay.  Apart from a brief period the de Merlay's continued to occupy the Castle until it was destroyed by King John during the Baron's War of 1215.

After the Baron's War finished the de Merlay's built their new Castle (pictured above) on the hill opposite the original.  The main feature is the Gatehouse (pictured) but there are also some sections of curtain wall left.  The Gatehouse is a later feature, dating from around 1343, although the curtain wall may be from the de Merlay's period.

The Castle passed through a succession of owners and slowly decayed.  In 1644 the Castle was garrisoned by 500 Scots for Parliament who withstood a 20 day siege before eventually surrendering.  The Royalists slighted the Castle and the Castle fell into complete ruin.  The Gatehouse was made habitable once more in the late 19th Century and today operates as one of the Landmark Trust's luxury holiday homes.

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2001