Prudhoe Castle, Northumberland

Prudhoe Castle is a ruined medieval English castle situated on the south bank of the River Tyne.

The Umfraville family built a stone castle on the site of an earlier Norman motte and bailey castle towards the end of the 11th century. In the late 12th century the Scots tried a number of times to take the castle, but failed. The head of the Umfraville family, Odinel II, strengthened the castle's defences.

Odinel was succeeded by his son Richard in 1182. Richard stood against King John, and so forfeited his estates to the crown until 1217when it was granted back to the Umfraville family. The castle stayed n the family until 1381 when Gilbert III, died without issue and his widow married Henry Percy.

The Percies added a new great hall to the castle shortly after they took possession of it. The castle passed between the Percy family and the crown for sevelral years until the castle was restored to the fourth Earl in 1470. The principal seat of the Percys was Alnwick Castle and Prudhoe was mostly let to tenants. In 1528 Prudhoe was again forfeited to the crown.

The castle was restored to Thomas Percy, the 7th Earl in about 1557 and was thereafter let out to many and various tenants until the 1660s when it was left to ruin.

Between 1808 and 1817, Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland carried out substantial repairs to the ancient fabric and replaced the old dwellings within the walls with a Georgian mansion adjoining the keep.

In 1966 the castle was given over to the Crown and is now in the custody of English Heritage and is open to the public.

Opening Times

Opening days and times vary throughout the year. Please check the website.

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Ticket Prices

Adults: £4.30
Children: £2.60
Concessions: £3.90
EH Member: Free

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Disabled Facilities

Access to castle: 200 metres up cobbled slope. Entrance through keep at rear of building. Ground floor of main house accessible via one step. Access to upper floor of manor house and chapel is up steep steps. Seats in manor house. Grounds: Accessed on impacted gravel and smooth grass, but pushers recommended. Steep slopes can be avoided. Some small steps. Benches. Toilets: Not adapted for wheelchair users. Shop: Level access

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More Information

Telephone: 01661 833459

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