Blenkinsopp Castle

Blenkinsopp Castle (spelled Blenkinsop in many records) is a fire-damaged, partly demolished 19th-century country mansion, incorporating the ruinous remains of a 14th-century tower house, which is located above the Tipalt Burn approximately one mile south of Greenhead, Northumberland, England. It is a Grade II listed building; it is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument as one of the "surviving tower houses retaining significant medieval remains".[1]

Blenkinsopp Castle
Northumberland, England
Car park and ruins, Blenkinsopp Castle
Blenkinsopp Castle
Location in Northumberland
Coordinates54.974°N 2.525°W / 54.974; -2.525
Grid referenceNY665645

Etymology

Blenkinsopp seems clearly to originate in the early medieval Cumbric language, probably as blaen 'top' + kein 'back, ridge' (thus 'top of the ridge'). To this was later added the Old English element hōp 'valley'.[2][3]

History

The ancient manor of Blenkinsopp was held by the eponymous Blenkinsopp family from the 13th century, and they created a substantial tower house. Some records indicate that it was built in 1339. A licence to crenellate the house was granted on 6 May 1340. It was being fortified to help protect the border.[4]

County records from the reign of Henry III of England (1207–1272) state that the land where the castle would later be built was owned by Ralph Blenkinsop during that era; there was no indication of any buildings on the site at that time.[5]

An early account by Wallis, writing prior to 1769 and quoted by Rev. J. F. Hodgson, found:

the west and north-west side of it protected by a very high cespititious[note 1] wall and a deep foss – a vault going through it, north and south, 33[note 2] feet in length, and in breadth 18½ feet: two lesser ones on the north side. The facing on the western wall has been down beyond the memory of any person yet living.

A survey of 1541 reported the roof to be in decay and the tower not to be in good repair. The family, whilst retaining ownership, granted possession to the Earl of Northumberland, and abandoned the castle for their other nearby properties to the east at Bellister Castle and Blenkinsop Hall.[6]

In 1727, the heiress Jane Blenkinsopp married William Coulson of Jesmond. By 1832, the property was in disuse, and a mine agent's house was built adjoining the ruinous structure, probably by the architect John Dobson.

Between 1877 and 1880, William Lisle Blenkinsopp Coulson arranged for the castle to be renovated to a Victorian style.[7] Shortly after these works, the Coulsons sold all their Blenkinsopp estates to Edward Joicey.[8]

The historic listing summary provides some additional specifics about the property:[9]

"House incorporating fragments of a medieval tower house. Licence to crenellate 1340; colliery agent's house added c.1832 (possibly by John Dobson); enlarged and largely rebuilt in Tudor style 1877-80 for William Lisle Blenkinsopp Coulson. First floor of 1880 entrance block removed in 1986. Dressed and squared stone incorporating some Roman material; roofs and chimneys of occupied west and north ranges are not visible; entrance block and agent's house now roofless ruins. Square-plan entrance block with agent's house set back on east and L-plan north range and house, with wall enclosing small yard, on west. Tudor style c.1880 details."

Edward Joicey purchased all the Blenkinsop estates in July 1875 and arranged for a restoration.[10][11]

In the 20th century, the castle served as a hotel, but major damage was caused in 1954 by a fire, and large parts of the property were demolished on the grounds of safety.[12]

In recent years, it has been part home and part ruin. In 2015, the property was listed for sale by Mike Simpson, whose family had purchased it in 1955. The estate listing stated that "one wing survived and now houses the family home, which sits within a larger residential park - also containing luxury chalets and Blenkinsopp Castle Inn.".[13] During the Simpson family's ownership, some renovations and restoration were completed, most recently in 2012[14] with some financial assistance from Historic England.[15]

News items at the time reiterated folk lore indicating that the castle was haunted by the "White Lady",[16] said to be "the widow of Bryan de Blenkinsopp because he left her when she refused to tell him where she had buried her treasure chest".[17]

As of August 2020, the Inn, with rooms to let as well as a bistro and bar,[18] was still operating in a separate section, not connected to the section that was a family home;[19] the area containing the Inn had been the castle's coach stable.[20]

Notes
  1. 'Cespititious' in the above quote means 'turfy' or 'grass-covered', from the Latin 'caespes' meaning 'turf'.
  2. Hodgson copying corrects this to 53

References
  1. "BLENKINSOPP CASTLE". Ancient Monuments. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2020. The monument includes the remains of a fortified tower house of medieval date, situated on a gentle north east facing slope overlooking Tipal Burn. It is a listed building at Grade II.
  2. Fox, Bethany (May 2007). "The P-Celtic Place-Names of North-East England and South-East Scotland". A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe. 10.
  3. Fox, Bethany (May 2007). "The P-Celtic Place-Names of North-East England and South-East Scotland (Appendix)". A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe. 10.
  4. Jenkinson, Henry Irwin (2016). Jenkinson's Practical Guide to Carlisle, Gilsland, Roman Wall, and Neighbourhood 1875. Leopold Classic Library. p. 129.
  5. Mackenzie, Eneas Mackenzie (1825). An Historical, Topographical, and Descriptive View of the County, Volume 2, 1825. p. 129.
  6. BLENKINSOPP CASTLE
  7. BLENKINSOPP CASTLE
  8. "Blenkinsopp Castle". The Gatehouse. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  9. "BLENKINSOPP CASTLE". Historic England. 10 June 1952. Retrieved 26 August 2020. List Entry Number: 1370313
  10. A sprawling and beautiful estate with a magnificent house at its centre, for sale for the first time in a quarter of a century
  11. https://books.google.ca/books?id=SQHgAAAAMAAJ&q=Edward+Joicey+++Blenkinsopp+castle+1875&dq=Edward+Joicey+++Blenkinsopp+castle+1875&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwif0LmW07nrAhUJOs0KHRQpCTcQ6AEwAXoECAAQAg |The Mummy of Birchen Bower and Other True Ghosts |Page 46]
  12. Ross, David. "Blenkinsopp Castle: History, Travel, and accommodation information". Britain Express. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  13. Take a look at Blenkinsopp Castle in Northumberland
  14. Blenkinsopp Castle consolidation sets mason off on new career
  15. Education & Skills
  16. Castles in England
  17. Castle on sale for less than price of London semi
  18. Cumbrian Country Inn and Restaurant brought to market
  19. BLENKINSOPP CASTLE INN FOR SALE
  20. |Blenkinsopp Castle Country Inn & Bistro
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