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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Dunstanburgh Castle
Castle
Castle
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Dunstanburgh Castle

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 County

Northumberland (15 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top / Baronial castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location55.491,-1.593 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Northumberland (15 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top / Baronial castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
55.491,-1.593
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
he construction of Dunstanburgh Castle was started in around 1313 by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. The castle is situated on rocky outcrops near the sea on the Northumbrian coast. The curtain wall of the castle still exist on the east and south sides of the castle. The north side is on the cliffs. The main gate-house is situated in the south-west corner of the enclosure. The gate-house consisted of two half-round towers and was converted into a keep. On the southern curtain wall, to the east of the gate-house are several towers. On the western curtain wall is the remains of a tall tower known as the Lilburn Tower.

The castle was held for the Lancastrians during the Wars of the Roses but in 1463/4 was captured by the Yorkists. The castle fell into disrepair and the stones were taken away to be used in local buildings.

Location

See Also

People

  • Thomas (Earl of Lancaster)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Related Episodes

Wars of the Roses Phase Three (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Three (click here)

Timeline

1313

...

Construction of Dunstanburgh Castle

Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, started the construction of a castle at Dunstanburgh on the Northumbrian coast.

1462

October 25

Queen Margaret invades

Queen Margaret landed near Bamburgh Castle on the Northumbrian coast with a small army. The main castles in the area, Alnwick, Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh surrendered to the Queen. ¹

1462

December

Yorkists take back control of Northumbrian castles

The Earl of Warwick was put in charge of capturing the castles from the Lancastrian garrisons. Edward had to stay at Durham to recover from a bout of the measles. The castles were not attacked but cut off from supplies to starve the soldiers out. Just before the new year the Lancastrian soldiers surrendered and the Yorkists took control of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh Castles. Warwick used the castle at Warkworth as his base while he monitored the sieges at the other castles. The seige of Alnwick Castle continued into January. ¹

1463

March

Northumbrian castles fall to Lancastrians

Sir Ralph Percy, the constable in charge of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles, defected and allowed the Lancastrians to take control. Alnwick Castle fell to the Lancastrians shortly afterwards.

1464

June 23

Alnwick Castle Surrenders to Warwick

After the Lancastrians were defeated at the Battle of Hexham their power in Northumberland was at an end. The Earl of Warwick accepted the surrender of Alnwick Castle on June the 23rd. Dunstanburgh Castle surrendered shortly afterwards. The siege at Bamburgh Castle was brought to an end with the use of cannons, the first castle to fall in such a way. ¹

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. Peter Potter, Data Donation
  • 2. Anthony Goodman, The Wars of the Roses, ISBN:0-88029-484-1

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Thomas (Earl of Lancaster)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

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