Chipchase Castle

Chipchase Castle stands on a rise north of Hadrian’s Wall near Chollerton, between Bellingham and Hexham in Northumberland. The oldest part is a four-storey pele tower built in the mid-14th century by Walter Heron after he married the Chipchase heiress. In 1621 Cuthbert Heron pulled down the old house and added a grand Jacobean mansion while keeping the tower as part of the new building. The pele tower still rises four storeys above the courtyard, its thick walls and battlements unchanged since the 1300s. The Jacobean mansion wraps around the tower, its mullioned windows and carved doorways facing south across the parkland. A classical façade was added to the tower in the 18th century by banker John Reed, blending medieval strength with Georgian elegance. The castle is worth the journey for its layered history and the stories of the families who shaped it. The Herons held the estate for nearly four centuries, starting with Walter’s pele tower and ending with financial troubles that forced a sale in 1727. Cuthbert Heron became a baronet under Charles II, yet his grandson sold the castle to pay debts. Later owners included a Newcastle banker and the Greys of Backworth, each leaving their mark on the building. The castle is privately owned today but remains tied to literature through Paul Torday, who lived there and set part of his novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen in its rooms. Its Grade I listing and status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument recognise its national importance. Visitors walk through the courtyard where the pele tower and Jacobean mansion meet. The tower’s ground floor holds a vaulted chamber with narrow loops for light, while the upper floors give views over the North Tyne valley. The mansion’s great parlour still has its original oak panelling and an elaborate fireplace. Outside, the parkland stretches south towards the river, lined with mature linden and oak. In June the castle opens its doors, allowing a glimpse of the panelled rooms and the stone staircase that winds up the tower. The grounds remain open all year, offering a quiet walk past the remains of earlier gardens.