ROTHLEY CASTLE

Northumbria

It seems incredible that anyone should feel the need to put up a folly Castle in a county that is jammed to the hilt with the real things.

Nevertheless, you can see why Dr. Sharpe chose the site for this well-executed sham ruin, it is visible for many miles from the east and from a distance looks very much the part.

Dr. Sharpe was the vicar in Rothbury (from which the folly can be seen) and his reasons for constructing the Castle in 1720 were appropriately philanthropic.  It was built to provide work for the unemployed of the Parish.  The Castle was, supposedly, designed by Capability Brown.

There is also some talk of it having been used for defensive purposes during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 - if this is the case it is the only folly Castle ever to be used as a real one!

It stands on public ground and offers some superb views towards the distant coast.

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2001