Photographs of Warkworth Castle

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Warkworth Castle was not built until some time in the 11th century, after the Norman Conquest. This was a motte and bailey timber structure. A stone wall was built around the site in the mid-12th century by Roger FitzRichard and the building started.
In 1292 the Castle was garrisoned with troops from the crown during the Anglo-Scottish wars and considered safe enough for King Edward I to visit. Henry Percy II built the Grey Mare's Tail Tower on the east side and renovated the solar, or private lord's apartment, and the chapel in the south-west corner. Henry Percy IV, the first Earl of Northumberland, built the eight-towered keep. The fourth earl completed the Montague Tower and the sixth earl left all the Percy property to King Henry VIII in order to keep it from his relatives. The Percy family regained their lands when Queen Mary reigned, but lost them again when Queen Elizabeth I took the throne. In 1672, the eleventh earl sold the lead from the roofs and the rest of the timber in order to settle his gambling debts. All that remained was the stone shell of the keep. Around 1850, the fourth Duke of Northumberland did basic repairs and made a residence for the custodian in the Gatehouse. The Castle was given to the Crown in 1922 and is now managed by English Heritage.