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.
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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 or a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.
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