In 1296, during the Scottish Wars of Independence, the property was taken over by Sir William de Felton who added fortifications for protection. A palisade was added inside the moat and a gatehouse was erected on the north side.
In about 1340 his son further improved the castle and added the solar tower, a gate tower and stone curtain walls. The tower contained three well-appointed rooms and was linked to the hall house by a small forebuilding.
After 1420 ownership passed to the Hastings family until 1519 and then to the Swinburnes who mostly let it to tenant farmers, with several of the buildings being converted to house livestock. They were accused of hiding Jesuit priests here in 1581, but a thorough search found nothing. Two of the last inhabitants were witnesses at the Margaret Stothard witch-trial. The place was abandoned in 1650 and appears to have been in ruins by the end of the 17th century.
On the way to the castle, you will pass St. John the Baptist Church. Feel free to have a look inside as it is supposed to be always open (the handle on the door in quite stiff to turn, so you may need to persevere!). There is a beautiful stained glass window at the South end. It is believed that there may have been a church here in AD 740 which was replaced by another circa AD 840. The first stone church dates from circa AD 1050 and parts of this may have survived in the west wall. The main part of the present building is 12th century, the 14th century tower was probably used for defence. Sir William de Felton is buried within the church.
In the distance, you can see a disused five-arched railway viaduct which was built around 1885. It was constructed to serve the North Eastern Railway's Cornhill Branch on the line between Alnwick and Coldstream. It opened in 1887 and closed in 1953 and is now a Grade II Listed Building.
There is no charge for parking or to access the site.
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