Research on Warkworth Castle and Hermitage

Although much work has been done on the great tower, there remains plenty of scope for further study of the other castle buildings, the hermitage and the castle surroundings.

A photograph of the hall range, with visitors to Warkworth Castle and Hermitage, in the late 19th century — A photograph of the hall range, with visitors to the castle, in the late 19th century. The castle’s role as a tourist attraction from the late 18th century onwards offers potential for future study

Research to Date

Research on Warkworth to date has tended to focus on the great tower. In the absence of sufficient documentary evidence different dates between the 14th and 16th centuries have been proposed for it. The present consensus of opinion is that it dates from the late 14th century. A full up-to-date survey of the great tower, however, remains to be done. The last complete set of plans was drawn up in the 1920s and no accurate drawn elevations presently exist.

Aerial view of the town and Warkworth Castle and Hermitage from the south with the River Croquet running alongside to the west — View of the castle and town from the south. The relationship between the castle and its surroundings, including the town and the park to the west, is an area with scope for further research © Skyscan Balloon Photography (Historic England Photo Library)

Research Gaps

Since the publication of the Northumberland County History account of Warkworth in 1899,^[1]little work has been done on the other castle buildings, the hermitage, the park or the town. Many aspects of the castle and its history merit further investigation, including:

the Anglo-Saxon settlement at Warkworth and the residence of the Earls of Northumbria
the circumstances of the castle’s foundation
a full analysis of the buildings in the castle bailey and the different phases of their development
how the Percy family used the castle in the late Middle Ages
the relationship of the castle to the park
the development of the town, one of the most perfectly preserved medieval settlements in Britain
Warkworth’s connection to the sea and its relationship to castles nearby, notably Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh
the history of the collegiate church
the function of the hermitage and its relationship with other rock chapels of the late 14th century
the history of the castle during the English Civil War
the use of the castle in the 18th century and its importance as a tourist attraction
the attempts to rebuild the castle in the 17th century and in about 1800, and Anthony Salvin’s restoration work of 1853–8
English Heritage’s collection of medieval architectural stonework from Warkworth
the antiquarian interests of the Dukes and Duchesses of Northumberland in the 19th century, and their proposals for restoring and furnishing Warkworth Castle.

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Footnotes

1. JC Hodgson, A History of Northumberland, vol 5 (Newcastle upon Tyne, 1899) (accessed 13 December 2012).