Bellister Castle

Bellister Castle (gbmapping|70066297) is a privately owned castellated 19th century mansion house attached to the ruinous remains of a 14th century tower house, situated near Haltwhistle, Northumberland. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.

The property stands on a mound which may have been the motte of an early motte and bailey castle. A moated hall house existed on the site in the 13th century and a substantial tower was added to the western end in the 14th century.

A survey of 1541 records a tower house occupied by Blenkinsop (of the family of nearby Blenkinsop Castle) in a 'measurable good' state of repair.

In about 1699 the property was enlarged into a three storey castellated house. The Blenkinsop family sold their estates including Bellister in 1697 and the castle was thereafter held by several different owners.

A substantial rebuild by architect John Dobson in 1826 created an imposing castellated east front and further alterations took place in 1890 and in 1905 following serious fire damage in 1901. The older parts of the property were allowed to fall into decay and remain ruinous.

ee also

*Hadrian's Wall

References

* [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=240693 English Heritage:Images of England, architectural description of listed building]
* [http://www.ecastles.co.uk/philipdavis/English%20sites/2555.html The Gatehouse Gazetteer, Bellister Castle]
* [http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N6685 Keys to the Past]
* [http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=24 Structures of the North East]
* "A History of Northumberland" (1840) Rev JC Hodgson Pt 2 Vol 3 pp 344-6