Elsdon Castle

Elsdon Castle was a castle in the village of Elsdon in Northumberland which is some 15 Km to the south-west of Rothbury (gbmapping|NY939935). It is also known as Mote Hills. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

It is probably the best preserved medieval motte and bailey castle site in Northumberland. It was built by Robert de Umfraville, not long after the Norman Conquest and stands on a natural spur of a hill. Impressive earthworks remain.

There is nearby a pele tower dating from the late 14th or early 15th century which was also built by the de Umfravilles and is known as Elsdon Tower.

References

* [http://www.northofthetyne.co.uk/Elsdon.html Images of Elsdon Castle]
* [http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N9744 Elsdon Castle]
*Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, "The David & Charles Book of Castles", David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3