Bywell Castle gatehouse. Photo Northumberland County Council.

[NZ 04946178] Bywell Castle (Remains of). (1)

This consists of a gatehouse, measuring 59ft by 38ft, of three storeys, with walls almost intact, and considerable portion of the curtain wall between the tower and the modern house. The gate tower was no doubt built by Ralph Nevill, who succeeded as 2nd Earl of Westmorland in 1426. (2)

Scheduled Ancient Monument. (3)

The earliest reference to the castle is in 1464, when Henry VI fled there after the Battle of Hexham. A Survey of 1570 refers to the gate-tower, and to foundations 'the height of a man' as being never finished. A survey of 1608 refers to the castle as being in decay. (4)

Castle or Tower at Bywell (gatehouse for castle which was never completed). (5)

Gatetower as described by Hodgson (2) in good condition, with a stretch of curtain wall extending from the east side and now utilised for the south face of the west wing of the modern house, the basement of which is contemporary with the tower, and is vaulted. There are no
traces of the former extent of the site to the north; the ground now laid out as private gardens.
The castle stands above a double bend in the River Tyne, upon a gentle south slope, from which position, from the top of the tower, a considerable stretch of the Tyne valley may be surveyed to east and west. (6)

Condition unchanged. (7)

Grade I. Bywell Castle
15th century tower house built from Roman stones. Consists of square gatehouse/keep structure of three storeys with castellations and corner turrets. Depressed arch to vaulted gateway Garderobe. Omit later house which now adjoins. (8)

Bywell Castle. Post 1415, not on castle list. 1464 Henry VI stayed there - must have been built mid-15th century. Not a towerhouse like Belsay and Chipchase, but a gatehouse at the junction of curtain walls. Castle built of Roman stones. Original windows and machicolations projecting on corbels at the corners. (9)

Bywell Castle, did not guard a bridgehead or take advantage of high land. Enclosed a large irregular-shaped barmkin. Gatehouse was the dominant feature of fortification, little else there, Had portcullis and gates, machicolations over the entrance, passage 10ft 8ins wide. Battlements and turrets of great interest - battlements carried to a great height to screen stairs to the turrets. Meurtrere in floors of turrets. Part of curtain wall remains between tower and modern house with 15th century vaulted basement. Many Roman stones used in building the castle. (10)

Built in the early 15th century for Ralph Neville. Although it is roofless, the shell remains virtually intact. The gatehouse was meant to be part of a large enclosure, which may never have been completed. (11)

Scheduled. (12)

Castle gatehouse, early C15 for Ralph Neville, second Earl of Westmorland. 2nd floor and roof missing. Henry VI sheltered here on his flight after the battle of Hexham Levels in 1464, abandoning his sword, helmet and crown which were found by the victorious Lord Montagu who captured the castle soon afterwards. Apart from the tower house/gatehouse (cf. Dunstanburgh, Bothal, Willimoteswick) the castle appears never to have been completed. See List for full account.

Remains of castle curtain wall and tower incorporated in Bywell Castle House. Grade II. Curtain wall and tower, early C15, incorporated in C19 house remodelled 1912 and later. Squared stone. South wall of the house links to left with gatehouse (q.v.). Medieval masonry continues as far as C20 doorway on right return, with circular gun loop above plinth. Interior not seen; basement vault of gun house said to survive. (13a)

NZ 049 618. Bywell Castle gate tower. Scheduled No ND/91. (13b)

Listed by Cathcart King. (13c)

History of the castle. (13d)