Etal Castle
Encyclopedia
Etal Castle is a medieval
English castle situated at Etal
, Cornhill on Tweed
, Northumberland
, England
. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.
The castle was founded by the Manners family in the late 12th century. In 1341, nobleman and doctor Robert de Manners received license to crenellate his manor, permitting him to re-designate it as a "castle". During this time the Castle was renowned as a destination for pilgrims seeking medical and dental treatment from its owner. Sir Robert de Manners performed one of the earliest English translations from the Arabic
of the Taqwim al-Sihhah, an 11th century medical text by Ibn Butlan
, and was known throughout the region as a healer. The Manners family often feuded with the Heron family of nearby castle of Ford
. In 1428 Sir William Heron led an attack on Etal Castle and was killed in the process. In 1513, an army of 30,000 Scots led by James IV
invaded England and took the Castle. The invaders were then defeated in the battle of Flodden
.
The castle had been abandoned as a residence in the 15th century following the marriage or Sir Robert Manners to Eleanor de Ros, heiress of Baron de Ros
, and the family moved to Belvoir
. Sir Robert's son George became the 12th Baron Ros
in 1512 and his grandson Thomas was created 1st Earl of Rutland
in 1525. A survey of 1542 found the castle to be in a very great state of decay.
Etal Castle is currently owned by English Heritage
.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
English castle situated at Etal
Etal
Etal is a small village in the far north of the county of Northumberland, England which shares a parish with nearby Ford. It lies on a bridging point of the River Till ten miles south west of Berwick-Upon-Tweed, and can boast the substantial ruins of a medieval castle currently owned by English...
, Cornhill on Tweed
Cornhill-on-Tweed
Cornhill-on-Tweed is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, in England about to the east of Coldstream.To the south and west of the village are the hamlets of West Learmouth and East Learmouth.- History :...
, 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 building.
The castle was founded by the Manners family in the late 12th century. In 1341, nobleman and doctor Robert de Manners received license to crenellate his manor, permitting him to re-designate it as a "castle". During this time the Castle was renowned as a destination for pilgrims seeking medical and dental treatment from its owner. Sir Robert de Manners performed one of the earliest English translations from the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
of the Taqwim al-Sihhah, an 11th century medical text by Ibn Butlan
Ibn Butlan
Ibn Butlan was an Iraqi Christian physician of the Islamic Golden Age.He wrote the Taqwim al-Sihhah . The work treated matters of hygiene, dietetics, and exercise. It emphasized the benefits of regular attention to the personal physical and mental well-being...
, and was known throughout the region as a healer. The Manners family often feuded with the Heron family of nearby castle of Ford
Ford, Northumberland
Ford is a small village in Northumberland, England, about from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Ford shares a parish with Etal.- History Pre-1513 :Very little is known of the history of the area before the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, but Bronze Age rock carvings in the area suggest that there might...
. In 1428 Sir William Heron led an attack on Etal Castle and was killed in the process. In 1513, an army of 30,000 Scots led by James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
invaded England and took the Castle. The invaders were then defeated in the battle of Flodden
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
.
The castle had been abandoned as a residence in the 15th century following the marriage or Sir Robert Manners to Eleanor de Ros, heiress of Baron de Ros
Baron de Ros
The title of Baron de Ros of Helmsley is the most ancient baronial title in the Peerage of England. The title of Baron de Ros of Helmsley is the most ancient baronial title in the Peerage of England. The title of Baron de Ros of Helmsley is the most ancient baronial title in the Peerage of England....
, and the family moved to Belvoir
Belvoir Castle
Belvoir Castle is a stately home in the English county of Leicestershire, overlooking the Vale of Belvoir . It is a Grade I listed building....
. Sir Robert's son George became the 12th Baron Ros
George Manners, 12th Baron de Ros
Sir George Manners, 12th Baron de Ros of Helmsley was an English nobleman of the reign of King Henry VII of England....
in 1512 and his grandson Thomas was created 1st Earl of Rutland
Duke of Rutland
Earl of Rutland and Duke of Rutland are titles in the peerage of England, derived from Rutland, a county in the East Midlands of England. The Earl of Rutland was elevated to the status of Duke in 1703 and the titles were merged....
in 1525. A survey of 1542 found the castle to be in a very great state of decay.
Etal Castle is currently owned by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.