Bellister Castle
Encyclopedia
Bellister Castle is a National Trust
owned castellated 19th century mansion house attached to the ruinous remains of a 14th century tower house
, situated near Haltwhistle
, Northumberland
, England
. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed buildinghttp://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=240693http://www.tynedale.gov.uk/residents/download_service.asp?id=444.
The property stands on a mound which may have been the motte of an early motte and bailey
castle. A moated hall house existed on the site in the 13th century and a substantial tower was added to the western end in the 14th century.
A survey of 1541 records a tower house
occupied by Blenkinsop (of the family of nearby Blenkinsop Castle
) in a 'measurable good' state of repair.
In about 1699 the property was enlarged into a three storey castellated house. The Blenkinsop family sold their estates including Bellister in 1697 and the castle was thereafter held by several different owners.
A substantial rebuild by architect John Dobson
in 1826 created an imposing castellated east front and further alterations took place in 1890 and in 1905 following serious fire damage in 1901. The older parts of the property were allowed to fall into decay and remain ruinous.
National Trust
National Trust most commonly refers to an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural or environmental treasures of a particular geographic region. They generally operate as private non-profit organizations, although some receive considerable support from their national government...
owned castellated 19th century mansion house attached to the ruinous remains of a 14th century tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
, situated near Haltwhistle
Haltwhistle
Haltwhistle is a small town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, situated east of Brampton, near Hadrian's Wall, and the villages of Plenmeller, Rowfoot and Melkridge...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed buildinghttp://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=240693http://www.tynedale.gov.uk/residents/download_service.asp?id=444.
The property stands on a mound which may have been the motte of an early motte and bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
castle. A moated hall house existed on the site in the 13th century and a substantial tower was added to the western end in the 14th century.
A survey of 1541 records a tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
occupied by Blenkinsop (of the family of nearby Blenkinsop Castle
Blenkinsop Castle
Blenkinsopp Castle is a fire-damaged, partly demolished 19th-century country mansion incorporating the ruinous remains of a 14th-century tower house located above the Tipalt Burn approximately one mile from Greenhead, Northumberland, England...
) in a 'measurable good' state of repair.
In about 1699 the property was enlarged into a three storey castellated house. The Blenkinsop family sold their estates including Bellister in 1697 and the castle was thereafter held by several different owners.
A substantial rebuild by architect John Dobson
John Dobson (architect)
John Dobson was a 19th-century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East - Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn,...
in 1826 created an imposing castellated east front and further alterations took place in 1890 and in 1905 following serious fire damage in 1901. The older parts of the property were allowed to fall into decay and remain ruinous.