Rothbury Castle (Rothbury)
[NU 05740159] Rothbury Castle. This early castle was on the north bank of the River Coquet with its mound on the south close to the river's bank a little to the west of the church. Its site was levelled and the mound destroyed when the new churchyard was made. There is no history of it known. It would seem probable that it was built in the early 12th century by the lord of the manor Robert Ogle. (1)
In 1661 Rothbury Hall [Castle] was in the occupation of William Thirlwall. Up to c.1850 the upper portion was still inhabited, but in 1869 its walls were razed to the ground and the foundations dug out to form an extension of the churchyard. It originally consisted of massive walls and stone arched vaults or strong dungeon chambers. Wm de Valence's prison at Rowebyre, mentioned in a record 24/4/1256 doubtless refers to the basement of this building. The site lies c.50 yards south west of the parish church. (2)
Tower at Rothbury. (3)
[General infomation as contained in Authy (2)]. A distant view of the ruins in 1843 [not available] shows that part of the castle consisted of a square tower with east and west gables. Nothing known of its architecture. Presumably the lord's house mentioned in the 1310 valuation of the manor. (4)
The site occupied by the churchyard extension on the south-west side of Church Street, is upon the highest part of a rise of ground, around the south side of which the River Coquet flows in a shallow bend. The rise overlooks a long stretch of the river valley to the west, and would do so to the east but for the erection of modern buildings on that side. To the north it commands rising wooded slopes beyond the town. There are now no traces to be seen of the castle. (5)
Tradition that the site of the castle was that of the new cemetery, called Haa' Hill, and that every stone of the edifice had been removed. (6)
The term 'castle' may have been used for what was a house or hall. (7)
Listed by Cathcart King. (8a)
Rothbury was part of the King's lands, and administered by the sheriffs until granted to the Warkworth Barons in 1205. Shortly after 1205, Robert, Baron Warkworth, built a hunting lodge on Haa Hill at Rothbury, probably either a tower or motte and bailey. In 1461 the building was replaced by a fortified manor house. By the 19th century, this building, called Rothbury Hall, was ruinous and was pulled down in 1869. (8b)
In 1661 Rothbury Hall [Castle] was in the occupation of William Thirlwall. Up to c.1850 the upper portion was still inhabited, but in 1869 its walls were razed to the ground and the foundations dug out to form an extension of the churchyard. It originally consisted of massive walls and stone arched vaults or strong dungeon chambers. Wm de Valence's prison at Rowebyre, mentioned in a record 24/4/1256 doubtless refers to the basement of this building. The site lies c.50 yards south west of the parish church. (2)
Tower at Rothbury. (3)
[General infomation as contained in Authy (2)]. A distant view of the ruins in 1843 [not available] shows that part of the castle consisted of a square tower with east and west gables. Nothing known of its architecture. Presumably the lord's house mentioned in the 1310 valuation of the manor. (4)
The site occupied by the churchyard extension on the south-west side of Church Street, is upon the highest part of a rise of ground, around the south side of which the River Coquet flows in a shallow bend. The rise overlooks a long stretch of the river valley to the west, and would do so to the east but for the erection of modern buildings on that side. To the north it commands rising wooded slopes beyond the town. There are now no traces to be seen of the castle. (5)
Tradition that the site of the castle was that of the new cemetery, called Haa' Hill, and that every stone of the edifice had been removed. (6)
The term 'castle' may have been used for what was a house or hall. (7)
Listed by Cathcart King. (8a)
Rothbury was part of the King's lands, and administered by the sheriffs until granted to the Warkworth Barons in 1205. Shortly after 1205, Robert, Baron Warkworth, built a hunting lodge on Haa Hill at Rothbury, probably either a tower or motte and bailey. In 1461 the building was replaced by a fortified manor house. By the 19th century, this building, called Rothbury Hall, was ruinous and was pulled down in 1869. (8b)
N2912
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; A S Phillips
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