Ravensworth Castle is located in the village of Lamesley, the borough of Gateshead, Tyne, and Wear.
History of Ravensworth Castle
The castle was built in three different phases. In the 14th century, a quadrangular castle was built, which still survives to this date, although it is in poor condition.
From the original building two corner towers survived, both of which are 10 m high. Attached to these two towers there can be found remains of the curtain walls.
In the 18th century a house was built inside the quadrangular castle, but today there are no remains of this building.
Ravensworth Castle is one of Tyne & Wear’s greatest hidden treasures. In its glory days, it was visited by the Duke of Wellington in 1827 or by Sir Walter Scott.
The Ravensworth castle was the property of the Liddel family (a wealthy merchant family from Newcastle upon Tyne). In the early 20th century the castle functioned as a girls’ school. Since the 1950’s it wasn’t inhabited.
Ravensworth Castle is a grade II listed building since 1985 and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Access to the castle is not permitted as it is private property, but permission to visit the castle can be obtained.