Mitford Castle, Remains of Inner Ward and Keep
MITFORD CASTLE, REMAINS OF INNER WARD AND KEEP
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1370755
- Date first listed:
- 20-Oct-1969
- List Entry Name:
- Mitford Castle, Remains of Inner Ward and Keep
- Statutory Address:
- MITFORD CASTLE, REMAINS OF INNER WARD AND KEEP
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Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-05-24
- Reference:
- IOE01/16593/27
- Rights:
- © Mr Gordon Dixon. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1370755
- Date first listed:
- 20-Oct-1969
- List Entry Name:
- Mitford Castle, Remains of Inner Ward and Keep
- Statutory Address 1:
- MITFORD CASTLE, REMAINS OF INNER WARD AND KEEP
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- MITFORD CASTLE, REMAINS OF INNER WARD AND KEEP
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Northumberland (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Mitford
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ 17017 85492
Details
MITFORD MITFORD NZ 1785 10/16 Mitford Castle, remains of inner 20.10.69 ward and keep GV I
Castle ruins. Late C11 earthwork fortress of Bertram family; curtain of inner ward early C12, outer ward and chapel late C12, keep early C13. Squared stone, in places of ashlar quality. Natural hill scarped and ditched to produce motte carrying irregular oval inner ward containing pentagonal keep, with triangular outer ward to south and east and barmkin to north-east.
Inner ward: tall curtain,on stepped plinth, remains on west, with large round arch perhaps to a balcony. Section of wall on east with round arch to outer ward, is largely C19 reconstruction. Keep stands to 1st floor but external facing wholly robbed. Basement divided by axial cross wall into 2 barrel- vaulted chambers; impost band at spring of vault, internal stone spouts (bringing in rainwater; the chambers were probably intended as cisterns), segmental-arched doorway to mural stair. 1st floor has chamfered plinth, and is entered via lobby from external stair. To west of keep footings of possibly earlier 'blockhouse' with splayed arrow loops.
Historical Notes. Described as the "oppidum" of William Bertram in 1138. Seized by Flemish troops of King John in 1215. In 1315 the scene of kidnappings and the holding of prisoners to ransom by Sir Gilbert de Middleton. In 1327 described as "wholly burned"; it is uncertain if it was ever restored.
Archaeologia Aeliana 4th series XIV (1937) 74-94 and XXXIII (1955) 27-34.
Listing NGR: NZ1701785492
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 238931
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Archaeologia Aeliana in Archaeologia Aeliana - Fourth Series, Vol. 14, (1937), 74-94
Archaeologia Aeliana in Archaeologia Aeliana - Fourth Series, Vol. 33, (1955), 27-34
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 14:48:22.
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