Guidebook: Aydon Castle

Overlooking the valley of the Cor Burn in Northumberland, Aydon Castle is an outstanding surviving example of a 13th century English manor house. It was built by Robert de Raymes, a prosperous Ipswich merchant. Unfortunately, his arrival in the north coincided with the outbreak of fierce hostilities between England and Scotland and the castle was pillaged and burned by the Scots in 1315. By the time Robert died in 1323, the war had destroyed him financially. His descendants struggled, largely unsuccessfully, to restore the family’s fortunes and the condition of the castle deteriorated. In the 17th century it became a farmhouse and was later owned by the Blackett family of Matfen who used it as a family home until 1966. This guidebook tells the complex story of the castle and describes how the building has been adapted through history to suit its occupants’ needs. Key Features: 32 pages Paperback Published in 2016 (revised reprint)