Barmoor Castle

Barmoor Castle stands on an ancient site in Northumberland, North East England. It is a privately owned 19th-century country house built in the castellated Gothic Revival style. The present substantial mansion incorporates some stonework from the old house that once stood there. Before the current building, a tower house occupied the site, granted a licence to crenellate in the 14th century. The Muschamp family owned the manor after the Norman Conquest and built the original structure. The castle’s history includes periods of decay and repair, with financial troubles leading to its sale in the 17th century. The Sitwell family later acquired the estate and commissioned architect John Paterson to design the present mansion in 1801. Further improvements were made in the late 19th century by Brigadier General William Henry Sitwell. The castle was rented by historian Thomas Hodgkin from 1899 to 1913 before passing to the Lamb family in the 1980s. Today, the Lamb family own the house and operate a caravan and holiday park on the 200-acre estate. The castle remains a Grade II* listed building, recognised for its historical significance. Its decaying condition has placed it on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register. Visitors can view the exterior of the castellated mansion and explore the surrounding grounds.