More information : [NT 906475] NORHAM CASTLE [NR]. (1)
hed M.P.B.W. Guide. (2)
As described and in good condition. Open to the public. Published survey 1/2500 revised. (3)
Air photgraphs. (4)
NT 906476 Norham Castle. Scheduled. (5)
Norham Castle. Grade I. Ruined castle of the bishops of Durham. Originally a motte-and-bailey castle of 1121 for Bishop Flambard.
Rebuilt in stone c.1157 by Richard of Wolviston for Bishop Puiset. Of this period the keep and part of the masonry of walls and W gateway. C13 additions include the S wall of the outer ward and the great hall in the inner ward. The keep was extensively remodelled in 1422-25; finally much rebuilding, especially of the N wall, in 1513-15 for Bishop Ruthal. One of the turrets of S wall encased in Gothick cottage in the late C18 or early C19. Inner ward with keep forming SE corner. Outer ward with West Gate, the site of Sheep Gate in S curtain wall. Inner and outer moats. (6)
NT 9067 4756; NT 9064 4745. Norham Castle tower keep castle.
Scheduled RSM No 23229. The mound of the earliest castle is protected on the S side by a 20m wide ditch up to 10m deep and on the N by its own steep gradient and the River Tweed. The keep was complete by 1174. Full archaeological and historical account. (7)
In August 1999, English Heritage carried out a Level 1 field observation on Norham Castle (8).
A detailed architectural study of the castle, which proved that the keep was begun by Bishop Flambard as early as 1121, was published by P Dixon and P Marshall in 1993, and this contributed to a guidebook by A Saunders published in 1998 (8a, b).
The field observation identified what appears to be a defended enclosure in the field to the south of the castle (NT 94 NW 52), its interior filled with well-preserved broad ridge and furrow (NT 94 NW 48). The massive defences bank and ditch crossing the promontory to the SE suggest it to be contemporary with the castle and an integral part of its design and defensive strategy.
The moat of the outer ward has a substantial counterscarp bank; a stretch of c100m to the SE of the castle has been levelled, part of the material apparently going into the moat. The arcading within the adjacent rampart of the outer ward has been exposed by the removal of the earth along the same stretch, some of which is shown on a view of the castle by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck in 1728 (reproduced in 8b, page 4).
Main events in the castle's history listed by Cathcart King. (9)
Following the Field Observation in August 1999 (Source 8), in March 2002, English Heritage carried out a detailed field investigation and survey of the setting of Norham Castle (NT 94 NW 1) to improve understanding of both the castle itself and various earthworks in its vicinity (Event Record 1363798).
A full report on the Level 3 investigation, which includes full description and analysis, plans at various scales, photographs and interpretative drawings, is available through the NMR. The remainder of the archive material is also available (10).
A Medieval/post Medieval castle, centred at NT 9063 4758, is visible as a ruined building on air photographs. It is enclosed by two moats that are visible as earthworks on air photographs. The castle (situated on top of a Medieval motte) is as described by previous authorities. The innermost moat measures between 20m and 30m wide. It is, however, only visible on the south and west sides. Any further earthworks are obscured by trees. After the inner moat there is an outer bailey that measures 40m wide. This is enclosed by an outer moat that also measures 30m wide and is only visible to the south-east (on the air photographs available). (11)
The castle was described as ruinous in 1571 when Elizabeth I granted it to Lord Hunsdon. Full history of the castle. (12)
Norham Castle was in the Palatinate of Durham. The original castle of Bishop Flambard was destroyed by the Scots. It was rebuilt in stone by Bishop Hugh de Puiset soon after 1153 on the orders of Henry II. In 1173-4, Henry suspected the Bishop's loyalty and took the castle into his own hands until 1189, and during the vacancy of the Bishopric of 1208-1217 it was again taken into Crown hands. (13)
Despite several 16th century surveys commenting on the continual deterioration of Norham Castle, and its excellent defensive position, nothing was done to halt the decay and bring Norham back to defensive readiness. By 1596 it was totally indefensible. (14)
There are several gunports at Norham dating from 1509-13. (15)
Saunders thinks that the casemates in the curtain wall post-date the destruction done to the castle in 1513, rather than 1509-1513. There are three low level casemates for guns mounted on flat beds. The wall is sufficiently wide to have supported guns on it. (16)
Puplished version of the survey report alluded to in source 10. The survey shed some new light on the development of the castle as a whole the main benefit of the survey was in examining in detail the earhtworks situated in a field to south of the road, demonstrating multi-period developments here including a possible iron Age fortification, part of the third bailey of the castle. Moreover a line of probable 16th century earhtwork fortifications were discovered o nthe west side and on the edge of the promontory. A small settlement alongside the road to the south gate was also investigated. The report also includes a summary of previous investigations and the status quo of knowledge about the castle to 2002. (17) |