Cartington Castle is a ruinous, partly restored medieval English castle in the hamlet of

Cartington Cartington is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Thropton, in Northumberland, England. It is about south west of Alnwick, and about north west of Rothbury. In 2019 it had an adult population of 95, after having returned ...

, north-west of Rothbury in the county of Northumberland, England, looking down on the River Coquet. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.

History

Medieval period

Its first recorded owner was Ralph Fitzmain who held it in 1154. In the late 14th century a pele tower was built. This was extended to include a great hall, and probably a tower-defended courtyard, by John Cartington in 1442 when he was granted a licence to crenellate his home.

16th century

In November 1515 Margaret, Queen of Scots, with her baby daughter

Margaret Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular througho ...

stayed here on her flight from Scotland to London, having travelled from nearby

Harbottle Castle Harbottle Castle is a ruined medieval castle situated at the west end of the village of Harbottle, Northumberland, England, west-north-west of Rothbury overlooking the River Coquet. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed buil ...

. Nearly ten years later,

Lord Dacre Baron Dacre is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of England, every time by Hereditary peer#Writs of summons, writ. History The first creation came in 1321 when Ralph Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre, Ralph Dacre was Hereditary peer# ...

stationed his troops here on a march north to join the Earl of Surrey.

English Civil War

During the Civil War the castle was a major Royalist centre. Sir Edward Widdrington raised 2,000 foot Royalist soldiers and 200 horse and withheld a Parliamentary siege for over two hours in 1648, but the castle was eventually taken and slighted by the enemy.

Abandonment and conservation

Despite some demolition, the castle continued to be occupied until finally abandoned in the 1860s. In 1887 Lord Armstrong partially restored the castle in order to prevent its complete disintegration. Whilst ruinous, the castle is protected by its status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and as a Grade I listed building.

References

Images of Cartington Castle Structures of the North East
*Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, ''The David & Charles Book of Castles'', David & Charles, 1980. Castles in Northumberland Grade I listed buildings in Northumberland Scheduled monuments in Northumberland Ruins in Northumberland {{Northumberland-struct-stub