Simonburn Castle
Castle In Simonburn, Northumberland
Originally envisaged as a motte and bailey, Simonburn Castle was eventually a tower house before falling into ruin.
If you're currently looking to visit castles in Northumberland, then surely Bamburgh Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle will be high on your list. However, located just north of Hexham near Hadrian's Wall are the ruins of the lesser known Simonburn Castle.
It may just look like a pile of stone covered in grass, but there is some history surrounding it.
On the junction of two streams, Castle Burn and Hopshield Burn, Simon de Senlis, 4th Earl of Huntingdon decided to build a motte and bailey in 1136. However due to heading off to battle, he never completed.
Fast forward to 1291 and a 4 storey tower house was built here by a chap called Henry Graham, before passing to Adam Swinburne and then finally to the Heron family in 1358. The Heron's lived here until 1550 when they decided to head over to Chipchase Castle, leaving Simonburn Castle unoccupied and finally ruinous.
You can see that not much of the tower exists now with just the vaulted ground floor remaining with nature slowly reclaiming it.
Get 3 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 22 VIPs.
Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.
How To Find Simonburn Castle
Where Is Simonburn Castle?
Lat / Long
55.058174, -2.215042
What three words
Where To Park For Simonburn Castle?
Lat / Long
55.056234, 55.056234
What three words
There is a car park just next to St Mungo's Church in the centre of the village.
Contributed by Simon Hawkins
Thanks for checking out this place on the Fabulous North! I do enjoy a wander out in to the countryside trying to find hidden gems that not many people know about. You can't beat a rogue pele tower up a remote hill, a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.
More Places from Simon
More Places In Simonburn
Find more fabulous places in Simonburn, Northumberland and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.
Temple of Mithras
Religious Place Simonburn NorthumberlandA Roman Temple dedicated to the God Mithras near to Brocolitia Fort on Hadrian's Wall.
Limestone Corner
Crag, Rock And Cairn Simonburn NorthumberlandAn un-chiselable bit of Hadrian's Wall, near Walwick, where the Romans may have run out of might.
Ravensheugh Crags Trig Point
Trig Point Simonburn NorthumberlandThe trig point sitting on top of Ravensheugh Crags (256m) near Simonburn.
More Castles
So this castle wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
Rothley Castle
Castle Morpeth NorthumberlandA grade II listed, 18th century gothic folly, built for the Wallington Hall estate.
Dally Castle
Castle Bellingham NorthumberlandExplore 13th century Dally Castle ruins, one of Northumberland's earliest hall houses showcasing medieval architecture.
Warkworth Castle
Castle Warkworth NorthumberlandA ruined medieval castle in Warkworth standing over a loop of the River Coquet.
Never Miss A Fabulous Place
If you are afraid of missing out on all the fabulous places we post, or just want to be the first to know, then sign up to the Fabulous North.
Each week we will email you all the brand new places that we visit.
Sign Up To Alerts
Find Us On Facebook
We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.
Join Our Facebook GroupSimonburn Castle was listed in Castle // Northumberland // Simonburn