Twizell Castle

Twizell Castle stands as a ruined tower house beside the River Till in Northumberland. The medieval fortress once belonged to Sir John Heron before Scottish forces destroyed it in 1496. James IV of Scotland held a council here in 1513 on his way to besiege Norham Castle. The Selby family later owned the estate and repaired parts of the structure. By the 17th century, Sir Francis Blake acquired the property and began rebuilding it in Gothic style. The castle’s later history includes an ambitious Gothic Revival project led by architect James Nesbit of Kelso. Work began around 1770 but was never finished after forty years. In 1882, the Blakes demolished much of the incomplete mansion to build Tillmouth Hall nearby. Today, only a two-storey folly remains, with vaulted basement rooms and circular corner towers. Visitors can see the remains from a public footpath near Duddo. The site overlooks Twizell Bridge, a medieval crossing over the Till. Earthworks in the gardens mark the lost medieval village of Twizell. The castle’s ruined walls and blocked windows show traces of its past. Though unfinished, the structure remains a striking ruin in the Northumberland countryside.