Castle of the Month: 'The Centre of Britain'

[endlessrarities]

You thought I'd forgotten my regular 'Castle of the Month' post, didn't you???

Well, I didn't, so here, in the nick of time, is my chosen castle.  I could've gone for the obvious choice and featured a Roman defensive structure, but I decided I'd stick with the medieval period.

Today's featured stronghold is unusual in that it is A Castle With No Name.  It's one of several defensive structures of medieval or early post-medieval date located within the centre of the modern town of Haltwhistle, Haltwhistle Castle itself being represented by a former motte-and-bailey castle on the aptly-named 'Castle Hill.'  The reason for the high density of fortified structures is simple: the Border Reivers - represented here by the Armstrong family - were particularly active in the area, and hence the locals were forced to build defensively.

It's a pele tower reminiscent of a Scots tower-house, first mentioned in 1415, and later noted as belonging to Sir William Musgrave in 1541.  In the last few centuries, it's been given an odd Classical makeover and incorporated into a hotel, now called 'The Centre of Britain'.
 

 

An odd little restoration, and one which will no doubt make castle purists throw up their hands in horror (note in particular the Grecian-style  frieze at second floor level).

Sadly, I didn't get a chance to look inside.  The lure of the Black Bull's savoury bread-and-butter pudding was greater than The Centre of Britain's vegetable stroganoff (though I'm told that the desserts in The Centre of Britain are marvellous).

And look!  The sun was shining when I took the photograph!!  It's a miracle!!!

Information comes courtesy of The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland, by Mike Salter (Folly Publications, 1997).

 

Comments

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

The British gods surely do. I had pretty nice weather overall in Scotland (both times), Wales, and northern England. The German gods can sometines be dealt with by waiting for sunny weather, but when I plan ahead like with the Rhine tour in 2010, they may not always smile on me. I also obviously pissed of SOME Norse god who sent me all that rain in Bergen and on the sea eagle safari. ;) (Though the weather in Trondheim and Oslo was not bad.)