Warkworth Castle and Hermitage

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.

Warkworth Castle (Turner - 1799)

Warkworth Castle plan

The keep is square with the angles cut away; turrets project at right angles from each side; a lofty centre tower commands a great range of country.

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.

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, 2^nd 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-18^th 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 8^th 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.”

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

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

Nottingham Castle and the gentle Mortimer.

 A-Z Challenge 2012 - N

Nottingham Castle

In the legends of Robin Hood Nottingham Castle is the scene for the showdown between the Sheriff of Nottingham and the outlaw. However there is much more to the history of the castle than its ‘connection’ to Robin Hood.

Reconstruction of Nottingham Castle - 1896

The castle held a commanding position on a promontory known as “Castle Rock”, with 40m cliffs to the south and west. At various times it has been a major fortress and royal residence. After the execution of Charles I it was largely destroyed. The Ducal Mansion now occupying the site was built in the late 1600s.

Nottingham Castle - 2005

Built by William the Conqueror in 1067, the wooden structure with a motte and bailey design was replaced by a stone castle in 1170 by Henry II. In 1194 Richard the Lionheart regained the castle from Prince John with siege engines Richard had used during the crusades at Jerusalem - the only time that an occupier of Nottingham Castle was defeated.

In 1212 King John held sons of Welsh nobles as hostages in the Castle before ordering their execution. The boys’ cries rang round the Castle as they were taken one by one to the ramparts and hanged. Their ghostly pleas for mercy are still said to be heard within the castle precincts.

More drama occurred on the night of 19^th October 1330, when the lovers, Roger Mortimer, 1^st Earl of March and Queen Isabella were in residence. The pair were acting as Regents for the young Edward III following their murder of his father Edward II. The young king and his supporters entered the castle by the secret tunnel now known as Mortimer’s Hole and burst into the lovers chamber. Despite Isabella pleading ‘Fair son, have mercy on gentle Mortimer,’ Edward imprisoned him I the castle. Sir Roger was taken to London and executed there as a traitor; hung drawn and quartered on 29^th November his remains were stuck on spikes and left to rot on traitors gate at Tyburn.

Ghostly echoes from the time may still be heard in the Ducal Mansion now occupying the sight. Footsteps are heard pacing to and fro in the subterranean chamber where Mortimer was held. Sometimes in the castle a woman’s voice pleads, ‘Bel fitz, eiez pitie du gentil Mortimer!’

Charles I raising his standard at Nottingham Castle 1642

In August 1642 at the start of the Civil War Charles I raised his standard outside the castle walls but for most of the war the castle was held by the parliamentary forces. After the execution of the King in 1649, the castle was razed to the ground.

The site was bought by the 1^st Duke of Newcastle in the 1660s; the Ducal Mansion was completed by his son in 1678. The building was attacked and burn down by rioters in 1831. Later a local architect was appointed to adapt the Castle into a building to be used as a museum and art gallery.

The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, opened Nottingham Castle in 1878 and Nottingham celebrated being the first municipal museum and art gallery outside London.

Nottingham Castle Gatehouse 2005

Manorbier Castle, Pembrokeshire was Hilary Melton-Butcher's castle for M on Saturday.

Attributions:

• Reconstruction of Nottingham Castle 1896; Source Mackenzie, James D. (1896) The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure, Vol II. New York: Macmillan. Author James Mackenzie (1830-1900) PD
• Nottingham Castle. Nottingham Castle 2005; author Rob Bradford; Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license
• Painting by Henry Dawson 1847 of King Charles I raising his standard at Nottingham Castle 24 August 1642 public domain
• Nottingham Castle's Gatehouse 2005; author Rob Bradford; Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license