Bywell Castle

En un regard

Le château en bref

Bywell Castle stands in the hamlet of Bywell, on the north bank of the Tyne, in Northumberland, about 300 metres south-west of Bywell bridge. What survives is essentially an imposing gatehouse in the form of a tower house, the only completed element of a castle that the Nevilles never finished. The rectangular building, about 18 m by 11.6 m, had three storeys above and around a vaulted entrance passage. It retains its machicolated corner turrets, its crenellated parapet, trefoiled windows and many reused Roman stones. Historic England compares it with the great gate-towers of Dunstanburgh, Bothal and Willimoteswick. The site is best known for the episode of 1464: after the Lancastrian defeat at Hexham, Henry VI took refuge here, then fled, leaving behind his sword, helmet and crown. The gatehouse is now attached to a private house, set in gardens not open to the public.