The castle was founded when Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham from 1099 to 1128, gave orders for its construction in 1121, in order to protect the property of the bishopric in north Northumberland, from incursions by the Scots.
The castle featured in Sir Walter Scott's Marmion:
'Day set on Norham's castled steep, and Tweed's fair river broad and deep....'
It was painted by Turner in 1822
Currently owned by the English Heritage but free to visit