Edlingham Castle

Edlingham Castle stands in a quiet valley west of Alnwick in Northumberland. The small ruin is cared for by English Heritage and holds Grade I listed status. Nikolaus Pevsner, the architectural historian, called it one of the most interesting castles in the county. Nearby is the hamlet of Edlingham and its parish church. The castle once guarded a main route through the hills to Alnwick. Most of the buildings were taken down long ago, yet the solar tower still rises with a deep crack running from top to bottom. Foundations and parts of the hall house, gatehouse, barbican and courtyard walls remain visible. These remains date mainly from the 16th century. The site was strengthened during the border wars between England and Scotland from about 1300 to 1600. Visitors today walk among the low ruins and the standing solar tower. The tower once formed part of a fortified manor typical of northern England. The churchyard holds the grave of William de Felton, who enlarged the castle in the 13th century. An information board explains the site’s history and the excavations carried out in 1978. The church of St John the Baptist is close by, offering further details for those who wish to look.