Belsay Castle

Belsay Castle in Belsay, Northumberland, is a medieval tower house with a Jacobean manor attached to its side, now a ruin. English Heritage looks after it as part of the Belsay site, so you can see it on the same visit as Belsay Hall and the gardens.

What is Belsay Castle?

The core is a pele tower built around 1370, probably added to an older manorial complex. It went up in the Anglo-Scottish borderlands, where wealthy families needed a fortified home. The tower has rounded corner turrets and rooftop battlements. It belonged to the Middleton family, first recorded at Belsay in 1270. The estate was forfeited after the 1317 rebellion and returned to the family through marriage in 1391.

What can you see there?

On the west side stands the Jacobean manor of 1614, built under Thomas Middleton once the union of the crowns had brought calmer times. It was among the first significant undefended houses in Northumberland. Today it is roofless. A west wing added in 1711 was mostly pulled down in 1872. The tower was reroofed and restored in 1897, which is why it still dominates the group.

The castle is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Monument. The protected area also takes in a deserted medieval village, a possible moated site, a promontory fort and a watch post.

How does it differ from Belsay Hall?

They are separate buildings. Belsay Hall is a 19th-century neoclassical house, while the castle is far older. The Quarry Garden sits in the same grounds, but treat the castle as its own stop: a medieval tower and a ruined manor feel nothing like a grand country house. Since 1980 English Heritage has managed the site on behalf of the Middleton family, who still own the wider estate.

How should you plan a visit?

Belsay lies north-west of Newcastle upon Tyne and is easiest to reach by car. The castle belongs to the Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens site, so check tickets and opening times on the English Heritage website before you go. Allow about an hour for the tower and ruins, or half a day with the gardens. Pick a dry day, since the ruins and paths are mostly outdoors.

Frequently asked questions

When was Belsay Castle built? The tower dates from around 1370, and the Jacobean manor was added in 1614.

Are Belsay Castle and Belsay Hall the same place? No. The Hall is a 19th-century neoclassical house; the castle is a medieval tower with a ruined manor. Both sit within one site.

Who runs the castle? English Heritage, since 1980, on behalf of the Middleton family, who own the wider estate.

Is it a protected monument? Yes. It is both Grade I listed and a Scheduled Monument.