emains of a major Norman stone castle built on a hill just to the south of the River Tyne. The owners of the site in the reign of Henry I were the Umfraville family and they built a castle. In 1173 William the Lion, the Scottish King attempted to take control of Northumberland. The then owner of Prudhow was Odinel, a former friend of the king, refused to help so the Scots besieged the castle. Both in 1173 and a year later the Scots were unable to break the castle's defences. The entrance to the inner ward of the castle is via a passage through an oblong barbican. Once through the babrican any attacker would have to overcome a raised drawbridge and gatehouse. The gatehouse had a chapel in a room above the entrance and a later addition of a third floor. Much of the curtain wall still remains at Prudhoe and a tower at the north-east of the ward. In the western half of the ward are the remains of the 12th century keep. At the centre of the castle is a modern house that acts now as a shop and exhibition area.