Langley Castle
Langley Castle in the Northumbrian valley of the South Tyne near Hayden Bridge was built in 1350 by Sir Thomas de Lucy. The de Lucy’s lived in a Manor house on an a substantial estate. In times of danger they made use of the nearby Staward Pele Tower. A raid by the scots in 1346, which resulted in the destruction of the Manor house, convinced Sir Thomas that a stronghold capable of defence in the event of Scots raids or other dangers in the border country was required. Sir Thomas died shortly after the Castle was finished and it passed by marriage first to the Umfravilles of Prudhoe then to the Percy family and the 1st Earl of Northumberland. The Percy’s quarreled with King Henry 1V but the Castle was gutted before it was confiscated by the King. In 1415 but Henry V restored the various properties to the Percy family. With the onset of the Wars of the Roses the 2nd and 3rd Earls of Northumberland supported the Lancastrian cause. The Yorkist King Edward 1V prevailed and the Percy properties were confiscated again but they were reinstated in 1469. In 1542 the Castle was described as ruined but as it was in a strategic position for defence against Scots raids and Reivers it was restored in 1550. The Crown returned the Percy estates in 1551 but the castle was again confiscated by Elizabeth 1st in 1558 after the 6th Earl of Northumberland took part in the Rising of the North. In 1622 the estate, including the Castle was bought by Sir Edward Radcliffe who later sided with the Royalists in the Civil War and the Castle was impounded later recovered in 16871. It passed to the Earls of Derwentwater who became involved in the Jacobite Rebellions and the Castle reverted to the Crown. The estate was let out and the Castle was left. In 1860 some restoration works was undertaken. In 1902 the Castle was purchased by John Bates who began major restoration continued after 1985 by Professor Stuart Madnick. The Castle has been restored sympathetically reflecting its history and is now an hotel.
Langley Castle
Langley Castle in the Northumbrian valley of the South Tyne near Hayden Bridge was built in 1350 by Sir Thomas de Lucy. The de Lucy’s lived in a Manor house on an a substantial estate. In times of danger they made use of the nearby Staward Pele Tower. A raid by the scots in 1346, which resulted in the destruction of the Manor house, convinced Sir Thomas that a stronghold capable of defence in the event of Scots raids or other dangers in the border country was required. Sir Thomas died shortly after the Castle was finished and it passed by marriage first to the Umfravilles of Prudhoe then to the Percy family and the 1st Earl of Northumberland. The Percy’s quarreled with King Henry 1V but the Castle was gutted before it was confiscated by the King. In 1415 but Henry V restored the various properties to the Percy family. With the onset of the Wars of the Roses the 2nd and 3rd Earls of Northumberland supported the Lancastrian cause. The Yorkist King Edward 1V prevailed and the Percy properties were confiscated again but they were reinstated in 1469. In 1542 the Castle was described as ruined but as it was in a strategic position for defence against Scots raids and Reivers it was restored in 1550. The Crown returned the Percy estates in 1551 but the castle was again confiscated by Elizabeth 1st in 1558 after the 6th Earl of Northumberland took part in the Rising of the North. In 1622 the estate, including the Castle was bought by Sir Edward Radcliffe who later sided with the Royalists in the Civil War and the Castle was impounded later recovered in 16871. It passed to the Earls of Derwentwater who became involved in the Jacobite Rebellions and the Castle reverted to the Crown. The estate was let out and the Castle was left. In 1860 some restoration works was undertaken. In 1902 the Castle was purchased by John Bates who began major restoration continued after 1985 by Professor Stuart Madnick. The Castle has been restored sympathetically reflecting its history and is now an hotel.