Haughton Castle
Encyclopedia
Haughton Castle is a privately owned country mansion situated to the north of the village of Humshaugh on the west bank of the North Tyne
. It is some 10 km north of Hexham
, Northumberland
.
It was built originally in the 13th century as a tower house
and enlarged and fortified in the 14th century. At this time the castle was owned by Gerald Widdrington and, although it was still owned by the Widdringtons in the early 14th century, the Swinburns were living in it
By the 16th century the castle fell into disrepair and ruin and it was attacked by Border reivers
. A survey of 1541 reported the roof and floors to be "decayed and gone".
The property was acquired by the Smith family in about 1640, but in 1715 a further survey stated the building to be ruinous.
Significant alterations were carried out for the Smiths between 1816 and 1845, latterly by architect John Dobson
to convert the ruin into a substantial mansion. The Crawshaw family came into possession in 1862 and a west wing was added for them by Anthony Salvin
in 1876.
It is now an oblong tower house
and one of the best preserved hall houses in the north of England. It is a Grade I listed building. In 1888 it was acquired by the Cruddas family and it is currently owned by the Braithwaite family.
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
. It is some 10 km north of Hexham
Hexham
Hexham is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. The three major towns in Tynedale were Hexham, Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, although in terms of population, Prudhoe was...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
It was built originally in the 13th century as a tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
and enlarged and fortified in the 14th century. At this time the castle was owned by Gerald Widdrington and, although it was still owned by the Widdringtons in the early 14th century, the Swinburns were living in it
By the 16th century the castle fell into disrepair and ruin and it was attacked by Border reivers
Border Reivers
Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo–Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Their ranks consisted of both Scottish and English families, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims' nationality...
. A survey of 1541 reported the roof and floors to be "decayed and gone".
The property was acquired by the Smith family in about 1640, but in 1715 a further survey stated the building to be ruinous.
Significant alterations were carried out for the Smiths between 1816 and 1845, latterly by architect John Dobson
John Dobson
John Dobson may refer to:* John Dobson , British architect* John Dobson , popularizer of astronomy* John Dobson , Canadian senator* John Dobson , Northern Irish politician...
to convert the ruin into a substantial mansion. The Crawshaw family came into possession in 1862 and a west wing was added for them by Anthony Salvin
Anthony Salvin
Anthony Salvin was an English architect. He gained a reputation as an expert on medieval buildings and applied this expertise to his new buildings and his restorations...
in 1876.
It is now an oblong tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
and one of the best preserved hall houses in the north of England. It is a Grade I listed building. In 1888 it was acquired by the Cruddas family and it is currently owned by the Braithwaite family.