It’s a CASTLE but not as we know it, is a statement proved by it’s definition in the Oxford Dictionary. ie. chateau, citadel, donjon, fastness. fortress, keep, mansion, palace, peel, stronghold, tower.

 The one word not used with context to our present use of the word is CAPITAL, as until the Middles Ages (1,000 – 1,500 ad) when most of our castles were built they were the centre of a empire or kingdom.

 Fortified homes or cities were built throughout Europe and the rest of the World for over three thousand years prior to that, although the first serious fortifications in Britain were constructed by the Romans during their 400 year occupation until the fifth Century.

 After the Romans left the Border regions north of Hadrian’s Wall was the centre of  inter family kingdom feuding which was to continue for the next thousand years.

 Until the Romans wood was the main material with which to build a defensive home, after their departure the abandoned stone garrisons etc. were plundered for the ready prepared building bricks.

 Hence the earliest stone bastilles or peel towers are in the northern border regions, followed in the south of england after the Normans invaded in 1066. But still built as the capitol of a region from which to attack and plunder the neighbours and protect the occupants from attack.

Bowes Castle    Barnard Castle, Co Durham

Bowes Castle protects the approach to the Stainmore Pass over the Pennine Hills which the Romans recognised and the Lavatrae Fort which fell into disrepair after they left in the 5^th Century. In the 12^th Century the Normans saw the same strategic importance when Alan the Count of Brittany built a castle on the same site.

His son Earl of Conan  the Little resided in the castle until his death when ownership transferred to the Crown, when Henry II improved the fortification including a keep on the strength of the threat of raiding parties from the Scots to the north.

Further modification were made after a raid in 1173, a century later it began to be neglected with only the remains of King Henry’s large keep still stand protected for all to see by English Heritage.

Prudhoe Castle    Tynedale, Northumberland

Built by Robert d’Umfraville after he was granted the barony of Prudhoe by Henry I and his son Odinel who although brought up under the Scottish king later sided with Henry the II, when William the Lion’s army advanced south in 1173.

The Scottish king failed twice to take Prudhoe Castle during this conflict and was eventually captured by Odinel at Alnwick where he signed the treaty of Falaise recognising Henry as the Lord of Scotland. Odinel also built a castle further north in the Cheviot Hills on the river coquet.

The Umfraville line ceased in 1381 with Henry Percy married Gilbert Umfraville’s widow and took procession after which although always inhabited Prudhoe Castle fell into ruin until the 19^th century when the 2^nd Duke of Northumberland Henry Percy repaired the outer wall and built a new Manor House within.