Norham Castle
Northumberland, England (15 castles)
Motte & Bailey / Stone / Baronial castle
Not complete but much survives
At any reasonable time
The castle was occupied once again during the period of the Wars of the Roses.
Location
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Related Information
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Related Episodes
Edward I and Scotland (click here)
Wars of the Roses Phase Three (click here)
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Timeline
1121
...
Norham Castle, located on the southern shore of the River Tweed on a steep hill on the border between England and Scotland, was constructed in 1121 to protect the area from the Scots by the Bishop of Durham, Ranulf Flambard.
1138
Quarter 2
Led by their king, David I, the Scots invade and destroy Northumberland. The Scots moved south into Lancashire and North Yorkshire. This prompted Steven to mobilize an army to counter the invasion. The Scots captured and destroyed the important castle at Norham.
1291
May 10
King Edward I met the claimants for the Scottish crown at Norham. There were three main claimants to the throne all of whom were descended from David Earl of Huntingdon, the brother of William the Lion who died in 1214. There were many claimants but the three main contenders were John Balliol, Robert Bruce and John Hastings. The decision was delayed until the following year to allow all the facts to be taken into account. [1]
1318
Norham Castle was besieged by the Scots. The governor Sir Thomas Gray aided by Lords Percy and Neville managed to defend the castle at this time.
1327
The Scots invaded the north of England and laid siege to Norham Castle. The attackers managed to take the castle but it was rescued shortly afterwards.
1463
July
Warwick took an army north to deal with the new threat from Queen Margaret. The Lancastrians had laid siege to Norham Castle on the Scottish border. Under the control of the Earl of Warwick, the Yorkists again proved too powerful for the Lancastrians and with her invasion plans in ruin Margaret decided to return to France. She took Prince Edward with her. [2]
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A Medieval Mystery
There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.
1: Location
Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.
2: Alignment
Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.
3: Size
Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?
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