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T O P I C     R E V I E W bruno.bruno For some 10 years now I have been looking for a castle/abbey/monastary which we drove by, not being able to stop at the time. The castle is located in an area east of Chester-le-Street in Northumberland,north of the Tyne, and below Newbiggin by the Sea. We approached the castle along what I think was a B-road and on the right hand side were what looked like Alms Houses with brightly coloursd gates. As we drew nearer to the castle it sat on a well mown dome type mound,surrounded by a wall, no higher than 4feet. The "castle" was a ruin and was perched on top of the mound with a Keep at the far end and fairly high walls. Travelling down the B-road we came to a juntion where we turned right and so the castle was on our left. The most striking feature of this castle and surrounding wall was the colour of the stone used. It was a deep browny red, unlike anything we had seen before or since. As I am visiting the area again in August Bank Holiday I wonder if you could help in identifying some possibilities. Size wise it was not more than 100 yards long....maybe. Would appreciate any help from anyone. AJR Now there's a challenge !!! bruno.bruno The scene is still quite vivid as though I'd been there only yesterday. We were staying at Bobby Shafto's caravan park, very near Chester-le Street, and as always we meandered through the country lanes.I don't think that this was near any kind of built up area, like Alnick, and it definitely was no where near the size of Banboruugh Castle. As we often went under the Tyne, there is just a remote possibility that it could be located just south of the Tyne, but I don't think so.It was deffinitely not on a peninsula or next to the sea. I'm 90% sure it was in a rural area. What was unusual was that when you approached the mound it had thes cottage on the right hand side with these brightly coloured gates. Also when directly in front of the 4 foot wall the road went to the right which again seemed unusual because it looked like an island, and normally you would drive round it by turning left. The reddish stone has left a lasting impression. Please tell me it was not a time warp. Oh, by the way I am male, and 55 years old, and during that excursion I was accompanied by my wife, my daughter, and my parents-in-law, and they remember it just as vividly as I do. I hope you can help. Thankyou. Bruno. AJR Well, I'll try and jog your memory. There are only a few ruined castles in the area east of Chester-le-Street, north of the Tyne and south of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, and in a rural area. Mitford Castle (OS Map Ref. NZ 170855) is probably the most likely. I have two photographs of Mitford Castle, which I can scan and e-mail to you on Monday (I don't have a scanner at home - but I can use the one at work). I just had a quick look, and, although there is nothing mentioned in any of my books about the castle being built of reddish stone, the photographs tell another story. Mitford Castle is just west of Morpeth and about 5 miles west of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. Hope this turns out to be the one. Andrew Radella I hope you find it--I bet it would be really cool if you did! bruno.bruno Thanks Andrew. I'm getting really exited now. Look forward to your e-mail and i'll certainly check it out Bank Holiday weekend.Gone all goosepimpley or as my daughter would say "cool". Bruno AJR Bruno - I have sent you the pictures, and included them on the Photo Archive here. It may not be the place you are looking for, and if that is the case, we will continue the search for you. Andrew bruno.bruno Sad face again I think. I'm afraid it doesn't look like what I remember, especially the colour of the stone, so we're back to square one, but I will visit Mitford this weekend. You never know I might just stumble across "Our Castle" again. Perhaps it was a time warp after all. Thanks for racking your brain this time.Just a few pointers for if you want to keep trying.There is definitely a 4 foot wall surrounding the mound and the mound seemed to start at the top of the wall. The grass between the wall and the "Castle" was well mown and looked after. The walls were quite high and seemed to be in a good state of repair and the Keep was square and not round as in your photograph. The points raised above have come out of my looking at your photos, making me realise what it is not like, if you see what I mean. Thanks once again, Bruno AJR I will keep trying. Out of interest, if there were almshouses, then it might of course not be a castle. I have one more book to look in at home (tonight) and will hopefully have more ideas for you tomorrow. Radella AJR's right. After a rough and tumble search for Locksley Castle, I came across good evidence that it wasn't a castle at all, but a Manor that might or might not still exist. good luck! If you ever find it, I will be the first to check out this castle I've heard so much about! AJR Bruno, after perusing my "library" I still can't find any castle to match your description in the area you mention. However, at Morpeth, to the west of the village, there is a ruined Abbey - Newminster Abbey. I must admit that I am stumped on this one, and only hope you stumble across it on your travels. If you do, I would be interested to know exactly where it is. Sorry to be of no help whatsoever. However, don't be disheartened - just because I can't find it does not mean it doesn't exist. I'm probably overlooking something, and any other thoughts you might have, however unimportant you might think they are, could prove crucial - such as a river or railway or A-road nearby. [This message has been edited by AJR (edited 08-21-2001).] bruno.bruno No luck over the Bank Holiday. Went to Aydon castle which was a fortified Manor House, and Prudhoe Castle, the latter being the suggestion of a National Trust Officer at Lindisfarn Castle on Holy Island. That was a fantastic day out. The stone used on The Priory building on Holy Island is the same colour RED as what I am looking for!!!!!!!! Now onto the next visit . Thanks to everyone who contributed Bruno AJR Sorry that you were unable to find the site - I was curious to know what you had seen. Anyhow, it gives you an excuse to visit the area again.

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