Lammerside Castle

The earliest Lammerside Castle was constructed as a tower house during the 12th or 13th century by the Warcop family,^[1][2] and the surviving structure was converted into a pele tower using rubble during the 14th century (possibly to defend against the Scots),^[2] probably after 1403 as John de Lambyrsete did not yet have a property to his name.^[3] It was almost certainly, however, owned by Thomas Warcop in 1404.^[4]

By 1576, the area around Lammerside Castle had been enclosed by the neighbouring Wharton family to form the Wharton Hall deer park,^[3] and it was abandoned during this time when the Wharton family moved to Wharton Hall.^[2] The north and south wings were demolished shortly after it was abandoned.^[3]

Lammerside Castle was Grade II listed on 1 October 1981.^[1]

The surviving ruins belong to a tower which constituted a section of the central core of Lammerside Castle, and the surrounding earthworks of the wings, barmkin wall, yard, and a building platform also survive.^[3]

The tower consists of two storeys connected by a newel staircase. The lower floor, covered by barrel vaults, was divided by a cross wall and the southern section had three apartments; a corridor was present and it ran north to south. The upper floor had a single room with a fireplace,^[1] and the local lord probably lived there.^[5]

Towards the eastern end of the north wall, the stump of the wall of a now demolished adjoining building has survived, and earthworks suggest the layout of the adjoining wings.^[3]