A-Z Challenge 2012 -W
Warkworth Castle and Hermitage
The town of Warkworth
and its castle occupy a loop of the River Coquet in Northumberland less than a
mile from England’s
north-east coast.
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| Warkworth Castle (Turner - 1799) |
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| Warkworth Castle plan |
The area in front of the keep occupies more
than an acre and is surrounded with walls and towers, some walls remain at a
height of 35 feet.
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| Warkworth Castle 2008 |
The first mention of Warkworth Castle is in a
charter of 1157-1164 when Henry II granted the castle and surrounding manor to
the Norman Roger fitz Richard whose son Robert is believed to have undertaken
substantial building work at Warkworth. Robert hosted King John at the castle
in 1213.
The castle descended through the family line
and it was a later Robert fitz John with whom King Edward II stayed for a night
at Warkworth in 1292. In 1310 John de Clavering, son of Robert, assumed control
of the family estates. After the death of de Clavering and his wife Henry de
Percy, 2nd Baron Percy took control of Warkworth Castle
having been promised the Clavering’s property by Edward III. Warkworth became
the Percy’s preferred family home.
The last Percy earl died in 1670. In the mid-18th
century Hugh Smithson took the name of Percy when he married an indirect Percy
heiress and founded the dynasty of the Dukes of Northumberland. The 8th
Duke gave custody of the castle to the state in 1922. Since 1984 English
Heritage has cared for the site; Warkworth
Castle is a Grade I listed building
and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Richard Jones in his Haunted Castles of Britain
and Ireland says that, “the lower floors (of the keep) possess a distinct
chilling aura, and dogs show a marked reluctance to enter them; and if they do
they quickly become alarmed, Children entering its dark interior have also been
know to become silent and contemplative – which for stressed parents at least,
can become something of a welcomed relief.”
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| Warkworth Hermitage - 1814 exterior |
The hollow containing the Hermitage may be seen
from the castle hill. The Hermitage is on the north bank of the River Coquet
and can only be reached by boat. The story of the Hermitage concerns Isabel the
beautiful daughter of the lord of Widdrington
Castle, a near neighbour of Warkworth
and Sir Bertram, the lord of Bothal
Castle.
While Sir Bertram was feasting at Alnwick Castle with other Percy followers, Lady
Isabel’s maid presented with a helmet from her lady; the accompanying message
was that for Sir Bertram to win her over he must perform some deed of daring.
Lord Percy immediately set a day to march against the Scots in which Bertram
might test his helmet.
In the conflict that followed Sir Bertram was
seriously wounded and carried to Warkworth
Castle where it was
thought he would die. Isabel heard the news and set out on horseback to visit
and nurse him. The two men with her were unable to prevent her being met and
carried off by another prospective lover, a Scottish chief.
Bertram recovered and set out for Scotland to
search for her. Unbeknown to him his brother had already departed, without
telling Bertram on the same rescue mission.
Both discovered where Isabel was imprisoned.
When Sir Bertram arrived at the fortress where she was held he saw a Scot going
off with Isabel. Not recognising his brother Bertram rushed to the attack.
Isabel threw herself between them and was mortally wounded; the brother died
too.
In grief and remorse Bertram renounced the
world and became Brother Benedict. Giving away his wealth he scooped out
Warkworth Hermitage for himself and built a chapel for the tomb and effigy of
the slain Isabel with his own image kneeling at her feet. From the cell of
penance in the hermitage there is a window through which a kneeling penitent
can see Isabel’s grave in the chapel.
After Brother Benedict’s death the Percys
maintained a priest to reside in the Hermitage and to celebrate masses for his
soul. This tradition was continued till the dissolution of the monasteries.
Hilary Melton-Butcher's castle yesterday was V - Venlaw Castle, Peebles, Scotland
Hilary Melton-Butcher's castle yesterday was V - Venlaw Castle, Peebles, Scotland
Attributions
- Warkworth Castle, Northumberland, a 1799 water colour by J M W Turner; Victoria and Albert Museum
- Plan of Warkworth Castle; 1954 Castles: An Introduction to the Castles of England and Wales published by HMSO; author ST J O’Neill
- Warkworth Castle 2008; author Draco2008from UK; Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Licence
- Warkworth Hermitage, exterior view, as in 1814. England; October 2009; source Walter Scott Border Antiquities 1814; author L Connell
4 comments:
Hi Bob - we're the same and this is excellent .. so I've linked over - and altered mine ..
Cheers for now - Hilary
I've always had images in my head of what it must've been like to live in an old, cold, stone castle. It must've been a tough life with no running water or real bathroom facilities.
Different times.
Fascinating. The stuff of legends. It would make a good play.
I just read about this over at Hilary's blog and now it was interesting to come here and learn more of the history. Fascinating stuff!
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