Chillingham Castle, England

Chillingham Castle is a medieval castle in the village of Chillingham which was the seat of the Grey family and their descendants the Earls of Tankerville from the 13th century through to the 1980s.

The castle was built as a monastery in the late 12th century. In 1298, King Edward I stayed at the castle on his way to Scotland to battle a Scottish army led by William Wallace. A glazed window in a frame was specially installed for the king, a rarity in such buildings at the time.

The castle occupied a strategically important location in medieval times: it was located on the border between two feuding nations. It was used as a staging post for English armies entering Scotland, and repeatedly attacked and besieged by Scottish armies and raiding parties heading south.

The building underwent a series of enhancements, and in 1344 battlements to be built, effectively upgrading the stronghold to a fully fortified castle.

As relations between England and Scotland became peaceful following the union of the crowns, the need for a military stronghold in the area declined. The castle was gradually transformed; the moat was filled, and battlements were converted into residential wings. A banquet hall and a library were built.

During World War II, the castle was used as an army barracks and much of the decorative wood is said to have been stripped out and burned by the soldiers billeted there. After the war, the castle began to fall into disrepair. In the 1980s, the castle was purchased by Sir Humphry Wakefield, 2nd Baronet, whose wife Catherine is remotely descended from the Greys of Chillingham. He began a painstaking restoration of the castle. Sections of the castle are open to the public, and holiday apartments are available for hire.

Its current owners market the castle as being the most haunted castle in Britain.

Opening Times

The castle is open from Sunday to Fridays MONDAY 18 APRIL 2011 to MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2011.

Opening times: 12.00 - 5.00 Last entry 4.30pm

During the closed season, NOVEMBER - APRIL, the castle welcomes Groups by special appointment.

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Ticket Prices

Adults : £8.50
Concessions: £7.50
Children: £4.00 ( 5 to 15 yrs )
Under 5's: FREE
Family Ticket: £21.00 ( 2 Adults and up to 3 children )

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Disabled Facilities

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More Information

Telephone: 01668 215359

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