Warkworth castle was built during the first part of the 12th century on a hill overlooking a loop of the River Croquet.

In 1173 the castle was besieged and taken by the Scottish king, William the Lion.

In the 13th century the castle was given by Henry II to Robert Clavering who made the building a serious fortification. He built the impressive gatehouse and two towers greatly adding to the earlier stonework and also improved the Great Hall, chapel and other domestic buildings.

The castle became part of the chain of defence, with Bamburgh and Alnwick, against the Scots. The castle was besieged twice by the Scots in 1327 but this time the defences held.

In 1332 the castle passed from the Clavering family to the Percy family. The unusually shape keep was built in 1390.

It is basically a square with towers projecting on each of its four sides. The castle became a favourite residence of the Percys but in 1405 was besieged and taken by Henry IV when the 3rd Percy, Lord of Warworth was involved in Archbishop Scrope's rebellion against the king.

After that date the Percy family was involved in various transgressions which resulted in the confiscation of their lands but it was always restored to them in time.

During the 14th and 15th centuries the Percys carried out major additions and alterations. The castle was kept in good repair until the mid-16th century. Thereafter the Percy family spent more time in the Tower of London than at the on their estates and the castle fell into a decline.

Today the castle is a ruin and reflects the fact that the Percy family, dukes of Northumberland, chose to rebuild Alnwick Castle as their principal residence.

Warkworth Castle Opening Times
2008: 21 Mar-Sep: 10:00-17:00 Mon-Sun; Oct: 10:00-16:00 Mon-Sun; Nov-Mar: 10:00-16:00 Mon & Sat-Sun. Closed 24-26 Dec and 1 Jan. Hermitage: 21 Mar-Sept: 11:00-17:00 Wed, Sun, & Bank Hols.
  Tel: 01665 711423 Warkworth Castle Website