| Norham Castle was built in the early 12th century by the Archbishop of Durham. It stands on the south bank of the River Tweed. The castle has three enclosures or wards, each surrounded by an earthwork. The inner ward is the earliest. A large stone keep was built within it in 1174. The surrounding wall was often rebuilt and the current wall dates to the 16th century. Many other buildings in the castle also date to this period, though the keep was rebuilt in the 15th century. The surrounding wards contain further buildings, but did not have complete walls. Several stone bastions were built, as well as defended stone gatehouses. Some of these were rebuilt in the 16th century. The castle was built to defend the area against raids from Scotland, was besieged by Scottish armies several times in the 13th and 14th centuries. It was redefended during the relatively peaceful 15th century, though it was besieged during the Wars of the Roses. In 1513 it was besieged and attacked with canons by a Scottish army under James IV. As the area became more peaceful in the 16th century the castle began to fall into disrepair. Recent work has suggested that earthworks on the south side of the castle may be part of an earlier fortification, perhaps an Iron Age promontory fort. This is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Monument protected by law. See also:
Source of Reference
Local History of Horncliffe
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Norham Castle (Copyright © Don Brownlow)
Norham Castle from the air. Copyright Tim Gates, 2003.
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