Bowes Castle

Bowes Castle stands in the village of Bowes in County Durham, built within the remains of a Roman fort called Lavatrae. The site lies on the old Roman road now called the A66, a key upland route between England and Scotland. A timber castle was first raised here around 1136 by Alan de Bretagne, Count of Brittany. Between 1170 and 1174 Henry II replaced it with a strong stone keep, unusual for northern England at the time. The keep was three storeys high with a hall and private rooms, lit by rounded windows. A ditch and ramparts formed inner and outer baileys, and a mill by the River Greta supplied flour for the garrison. The castle played a part in the Great Revolt of 1173–74 when William the Lion of Scots attacked it. Henry’s illegitimate son Geoffrey, then Bishop of Lincoln, led a relief force that forced the Scots to retreat. Later, in 1322, local rebels looted the castle while its lord was away. By the 14th century the keep was in ruins, abandoned after raids and neglect. The Crown reclaimed it in 1361, and after passing through various hands it was finally dismantled after the Civil War. Today the ruins of the keep survive largely intact and are looked after by English Heritage. Visitors can walk around the stone walls and view the remains of the hall and private chambers. The site is protected as a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument. The old Roman road and the planned village beside the castle add to the historical setting. The Greta valley and surrounding countryside frame the ruins, offering quiet views of the Pennines.