Haggerston Castle

Haggerston Castle stands in Northumberland, eight kilometres south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Only the tower, rotunda and stable block remain from the medieval stronghold. The site once belonged to the de Hagardestons, who arrived with William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Edward II visited in 1311 and Edward III granted a licence to crenellate in 1345. Fires in 1618 and 1911 left only the tower and rotunda standing. The estate passed through many families, including the Manners and the Stanleys. In the 1880s Thomas Naylor built up the Leyland Entailed Estates. His nephew Christopher John Naylor rebuilt the house in 1893 and created a 9 300-hectare landscape. A witch’s curse is said to have brought three fires, the last in 1911 destroying the new building. Today the Grade II listed tower and rotunda belong to a caravan park. The tower serves as a storeroom and the rotunda houses leisure facilities. Seven Roadside Cottages and four Flower Cottages from the late 18th century still stand nearby. The ruins of the chapel, ice house and dovecote remain, along with a remnant of the original lake.