Warkworth Castle motte and bailey castle, tower keep castle and collegiate church

Scheduled area

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History & significance

Warkworth Castle is a substantial fortress situated on a bend of the River Coquet in Northumberland, encompassing both motte and bailey earthworks and a later stone-built castle with a distinctive tower keep. The site was initially fortified in the early twelfth century with the construction of the motte and bailey, which was subsequently superseded by stone defences including curtain walls and towers built from the mid-twelfth century onwards. The most prominent surviving structure is the imposing keep, erected in the late fourteenth century under the patronage of the Percy family, which dominates the castle's inner ward with its characteristic lion-shaped plan. The castle was further developed to include a collegiate church, reflecting its owners' wealth and status, and the site remained a significant aristocratic stronghold until it was slighted during the English Civil War.

Warkworth Castle motte and bailey castle, tower keep castle and collegiate church is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1011649. View the official record →

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