The Samples and Bothal Castle
Extracts taken from;
www.wansbeck.gov.uk/uploads/Bothal%20Castle.doc (Full Bothal Castle text)
A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF BOTHAL CASTLE
B Mead, Community Heritage Officer,
Wansbeck District Council
September 1999
Bothal Castle nestles in a beautiful tree-lined river valley between Ashington and Pegswood, Northumberland. It sits on a natural spur of land above the River Wansbeck protected by steep slopes on three sides. A magnificent 14th Century gatehouse keep protects the weakest side (North) of the castle.
THE CASTLE’S ORIGIN
At first glance the castle’s situation seems a bit odd. Instead of standing on a Northumberland crag and visible for miles around, Bothal Castle sits at the bottom of a steep valley surrounded by woodland. However, in the 12th Century the site guarded a bridgehead over the River Wansbeck.
A building of some sort existed on the site by about 1150, although nothing of this survives today. This building was known as a “Mansum”, almost certainly first built in timber but possibly repaired or extended in stone.
1830 TO PRESENT DAY
In July 1828 William Sample became agent to the Duke of Portland (owner of the Castle). He persuaded the Duke to finance the restoration of the gatehouse and the necessary works were carried out in 1830-31. Where possible restoration work was carried out using old brick and stone from the Castle remains supplemented by stones taken from “the hall in ruins adjoining”. Even so, when the work was completed it had cost double the original estimate (sound familiar?!). The result was an “old ruin much improved in appearance and kept much longer from going into decay”.
The “miserable shed” blocking the gateway was demolished during this restoration. William Sample’s son Thomas oversaw the construction of the substantial Sample Wing in 1858-59. This joins the western side of the gatehouse. The Sample Wing was enlarged in 1909 by adding another storey to its eastern half.
Today therefore, the visitor sees the results of over 800 years of building, alterations and neglect. The Castle is dominated by the gatehouse keep, as it has been since the 14th Century, and the much later 19th and early 20th Century wings to the west of the gatehouse.
Gardens and orchards now occupy much of the space beyond the gatehouse and within the curtain wall. But in the Middle Ages and, indeed beyond, you have to imagine a clutter of buildings occupying this space. Only the archaeologist’s trowel and shovel will reveal the form and function of these lost structures.
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HA
Links to other trees in the series;
The Jopling Tree and its Angus/Angas links
George Angus and Esther Mathwin
The Hon Esquire George Fife Angas
Richard Angus of Tantallon Castle
Joseph Armstrong Angus Trek to Victoria Australia