Thirlwall Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Thirlwell; Thyrlewall; Thirwall; Thirlewall

In the civil parish of Thirlwall. In the historic county of Northumberland (Modern Authority of Northumberland, 1974 county of Northumberland).

Mid-C14 castle surviving as a ruined building, largely built of stone robbed from Hadrian's Wall. Rectangular plan with slightly-projecting north-east tower. 2.5 to 3m thick walls standing to 2 and 3 storeys on north and west; east wall of similar height has partly collapsed at south; south wall has almost entirely collapsed. Fragments of chamfered plinth. North-east tower and corners have huge squared quoins. Scattered loops in flush surrounds with squared alternating jambs. No remains of vaulting. In dangerous condition at time of survey. Mentioned in 1541 as “At Thyrlewall is a toure of thinherytaunce of Rob't Thirlewall of the same in measurable good rep'ac'ons.”
Hadrian wall provided a source of free stone that meant the Thirlwall family were able build a massive building which impressed by size rather than the (expensive) architectural refinements of other contemporary Northumbian castles. Its military aspect is more due to the relative poverty of the Thirwalls than defensive reasons.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 240842)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY65946615

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 13910
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is N6068 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://members.rott.chello.nl/tjemmes/thirl.html
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/86/thirlwallcastle.htm
    http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N6068
    http://www.sine.newcastle.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=234
    http://www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk/AboutUs/Community/Projects/ThirlwallCastle/default.htm
    http://www.pbase.com/tomstorey/image/48234593
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/thirlwall.html
    http://www.northofthetyne.co.uk/Thirwall.html
• Books
  • Durham, Keith, 2008, Strongholds of the Border Reivers (Oxford: Osprey) p16-17 [For recontruction drawing only]
    Rushworth, A. and Carlton, R., 2004, 'Thirlwall Castle: a gentry residence in medieval Tynedale' in Frodsham, P., Archaeology in Northumberland National Park (CBA Research report 136) p272-94
    Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Keepdate Publishing) p370-2
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern) p98
    Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol1 (Cambridge) p140-1
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p195
    Jackson, M.J.,1992, Castles of Northumbria (Carlise) p115-7 [plan]
    Pevsner, N., 1992 (revised by Grundy, John et al), The Buildings of England: Northumberland (London, Penguin) p582-3
    Rowland, T.H., 1987 [reprint1994], Medieval Castles, Towers, Peles and Bastles of Northumberland (Sandhill Press) p46
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p342, 372
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p305
    Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p323-5
    Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle) p161
    Pevsner, N., 1957, The Buildings of England: Northumberland (London) p296
    Hugill, R.,1939, Borderland Castles and Peles [1970 Reprint by Frank Graham] p205-6
    Willis, T., 1912, Lanercost Parish Register 1731-1837 p208
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p422-3
    Tomlinson, W.W., 1897, Comprehensive Guide to Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p172-3
    Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p15, 48, 323-8
    Hodgson, J.C., 1840, History of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) pt2 Vol3 p147-8
    Scott, W., 1814, Border Antiquites of England and Scotland Vol2 p114
    Hodgson, J. and Laird, F., 1813, Beauties of England and Wales; Northumberland Vol12 p115
    Grose, F., 1756, Antiquities of England and Wales Vol4 p140-1
• Journal Articles
  • King, Andy, 2007, 'Fortress and fashion statements: gentry castles in fourteenth-century Northumberland' Journal of Medieval History Vol33 p376, 385-6
    Nenk, B.S., Margeson, S. and Hurley, M., 1994. Medieval Archaeology Vol30 p23 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    1918, Publications of the Surtees Society Vol131 p80-2
    1889, The Monthly Chronicle; North Country Lore and Legend p9-10
    Bates, C.J., 1886, 'Thirlwall Castle' Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol2 p210-3
    Bates, C.J., 1883-4, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Vol1 p157-9
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • 1541 Survey of the East and Middle Marches [http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/numblis5.html]
    1415 list of Northumberland Castles [http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/numblis2.html]
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/nhumbeng.html#nhumb3]
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Ryder, P.F., 1993/1997, Thirlwall Castle. An Historical and Architectural Account (NNPA)
    Archaeolgical Practice, 1998, Thirlwall Castle: Archaeological Evaluation (NNPA)