Structure Name: Ford Castle

Description:
 

E-plan three storey converted castle with three surviving medieval corner towers connected by curtain walls, one of which (Flagstaff Tower) is detached from the main building. The largest surviving tower is the five storey King James' Tower, which is at the northwest corner of the house. The northeast corner tower is hidden by later buildings.

Ford Castle is currently in use as a field study centre for the Northumberland County Council Education Committee.
 

Extant: Yes

Legal Status: Listed Building Grade I

Location: Ford, NORTHUMBERLAND

Eastings: 394420m (view map)

Northings: 637520m (view map)

Position Accuracy: 200m

Positional Confidence: Absolute Certainty

Structure Types Identified: COUNTRY HOUSE, FIELD CENTRE, QUADRANGULAR CASTLE

Historical Background
 

Ford Castle was built in 1287 and the crenellations added in 1338. It played a large part in the Battle of Flodden, the last decisive battle between the English and Scottish nations. The Scots laid siege to and took the castle in 1513 and James IV stayed there before the battle in which he and around 9,000 of his men were killed. Three of the castle's four original towers survive, though it was extensively altered during the 18th and 19th centuries.
 

Chronology:

• 1338   License to crenellate Ford Castle granted to Sir William Heron.
      Entities Involved:
            Sir William Heron: Owner.
• ELIZABETH I   North range of castle rebuilt as a mansion.
• 1694   Remodelling of mansion by Sir Francis Blake.
      Entities Involved:
            Sir Francis Blake: Commissioned works.
• 1761 - 1795   Gothick detail added to exterior.
      Entities Involved:
            Raffield, George: Carried out works.
            Sir John Hussey Delaval: Commissioned works.
            Nesbit, James: Oversaw works from 1771.
            Gilkie, Alexander: Carried out works 1791-5.
• 1861 - 1862   Gothick detail removed, north range rebuilt, and substantial interior remodelling.
      Entities Involved:
            Bryce, David: Carried out works.
            Marchioness of Waterford: Commissioned works.

References:

• Images of England
• Keys To The Past
• Northumberland SMR
• Pevsner, N., Richmond, I., Grundy, J., McCombie, G., Ryder, P. and Welfare, H. (2001) The Buildings of England: Northumberland. London, Penguin Books, pp.282-284

The information displayed in this page has been derived from authoritative sources, including any referenced above. Although substantial efforts were made to verify this information, the SINE project cannot guarantee its correctness or completeness.

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