Ravensworth Castle, County Durham

Ravensworth Castle
County Durham
Location
Grid reference:	NZ23255914
Location:	54°55’35"N, 1°38’19"W
Town:	Gateshead
History
Information
Condition:	Ruined

Ravensworth Castle is a ruinous castle standing at Lamesley in County Durham.

The castle is a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

History

Early owners of the castle included such families as Fitz-Marmaduke, Viscount Lumley and Gascoigne. In 1607, the castle was purchased by Thomas Liddell, a wealthy Newcastle-upon-Tyne merchant, and remained in the ownership of the Liddell family for over 350 years.

In 1724 Sir Henry Liddell built a substantial mansion within the curtilage of the castle, but this was demolished in 1808 by Sir Thomas Liddell, and replaced by a grand house designed in the Gothic Revival style by architect John Nash. The Duke of Wellington was entertained there in October 1827.

The Liddell family ceased to live at the castle in about 1910. It was briefly leased to a girls' school but gradually fell into disrepair and decay. It was substantially demolished in about 1952 when it became unsafe due to mining subsidence; some of the stone was used to extend Hindley Hall.

The ruinous remains have been included Heritage in the Heritage at Risk Register.

Restoration Series

The Castle was featured in the BBC's television programme 'Restoration'. All thirty candidates from the series also featured in a book which was produced after the series.

Outside links

• Sunniside Local History Society: Ravensworth Castle and the Liddells
• Ravensworth Castle on the Gatehouse Gazetteer
• National Heritage List 1025190: Ravensworth Castle
• National Heritage List 1025150: Arch, walls and tower to the west
• National Heritage List 1025151: Nash House
• National Heritage List 1185160: Stable block and gatehouses to the east
• National Heritage List 1025191: Well in stable yard