Harbottle Castle

Situated just a few miles west of Rothbury at the edge of Harbottle  village stands the remains of a castle. Although there is little to be seen it continues to attract a great many visitors. 

Harbottle Castle was built about 1160 by Odinel de Umfraville following a direct order from King Henry II; keen to strengthen his border defenses and demonstrate his power and rank.

The name Harbottle is derived from the old English "Here-botl" meaning "army building". 

The mound on which stands the keep is thought to be a mote-hill of the ancient Britons, and in Saxon times there was a stronghold here held by Mildred, son of Ackman

Not long after its erection it was taken by the Scots in 1174, only to be rebuilt more strongly and just over 100 years later in 1296  it was besieged in vain, holding out for two days.

About 1436 the castle passed into the hands of the Tailleboys and for a long time was the residence of the Warden of the Middle Marches. 

Among its claims to fame Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII and widow of King James IV of Scotland was granted asylum here in 1515 when a daughter was born to her: Margaret, Lady Douglas who became the Countess of Lennox, mother to Lord Darnley and the grandmother to James I and IV of Scotland.

However by 1543 the castle was in such a bad state of repair that the garrison was in danger from falling walls and timber. Part of the castle appeared to remain inhabitable and in 1599 George Meldrum of Dumbreck seized a Mr. Gibson (afterward Lord Durie) and imprisoned him in the castle where he was kept for eight days. 

It is worth recording that local folklore tells of escape tunnels from the castle and although recent excavations have found no trace of them a visiting dowser located five possible places, all five paces wide (approximately eight feet) and all ending at the peak of the castle ruins. Since escape tunnels are known to exist elsewhere it would seem sensible to assume that they also exist at Harbottle Castle. 

Following the Union with Scotland when border fortresses were less needed for national security the remainder of the castle fell into decay and over the years was plundered for its stone.  In 1865 Roger Widderington used both the stone and the name to build a new manor house at the east end of the village. Later occupied by the Clennels, there is a beautiful fountain erected in the village to the memory of Mrs. P.F. Clennel. The inscription reads:

"Mrs. Clennel, of Harbottle Castle, died Nov 17th, 1879.
She devoted the powers of an active mind, the impulses of a generous heart and the industry of a busy life, to the welfare and happiness of the inhabitants of Harbottle and the neighbourhood.
To perpetuate her name and virtues, they erected this fountain, August 1880."

Little remains of the castle today although excavations take place each summer. A brand new car park and picnic site has been built to accommodate visitors and Northumberland National Park has erected an information board. A poem  "The Sad Castle" by Felicity Lance, a pupil from Harbottle School is inscribed on a stone slab adjacent to the picnic area.

High on Harbottle Hill, stands a massive sandstone block, known as the Drakestone. It stands, overlooking  Harbottle  Lough, a lonely tarn surrounded by sandstone ridges with sweeping views across the heather to Redesdale.

 There is a story that tells of a plan to drain the tarn but the workmen fled at the sound of voices singing:

"Let alone, let alone
Or I'll drown Harbottle
And the Peels and the bonny Holystone"

The Drake Stone is reached by a narrow but well worn path from the forest to the west of Harbottle. Almost 30 feet in height at its maximum it presents quite a challenge to visitors, for whilst it is fairly easy to climb up, using the cracks in the surface, descent is more difficult. Folklore has it that cries for help were not unusual with passing travellers spending the night in safety at the top but unable to descend  in the morning.

Folklore also tells of sick children being passed over the stone to facilitate their recovery. And this may well be true as the huge stone was the Draag Stone of the Druids. At any rate Tomlinson tells us that:

"Harbottle is an exceptionally healthy place ........and mortality among children almost unknown"