Brancepeth Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Branspeth

In the civil parish of Brancepeth.
In the historic county of Durham; County Palatinate of (Modern Authority of Durham, 1974 county of County Durham).

Brancepeth Castle, extensively reconstructed c.1817-1818, contains substantial portions of the original castle of the Nevilles, 1397-1584. "The gateway, defended by a portcullis, and flanked by square towers, has been destroyed, but its size is that of the present gateway." Leland states that Rafe Neville, built much of the house in 1398. Some major features include Bulmer Tower - one of the four original towers, comprising the main living quarters. This tower measures 9.3m. x 6m. externally, and has been partially renovated. A three-storeyed tower, 15.2m. x 6.2m, with embattled roof and a C17 mullion-and-transom window in the top floor, partially renovated. Neville Tower. A third original tower, renovated, 13m. x 9m. There are four machicolated turrets, a late C15 window and a late C16 window.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NZ22333773

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 24134

County Sites and Monuments Record number; D1375

• Web site links
  • http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1375
    http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/adv_reference.asp?UID=73968
    http://www.sine.newcastle.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=2342
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles and Tower Houses of County Durham (Malvern) p20-23
    Jackson, M.J., 1996, Castles of Durham and Cleveland (Carlise) p22-5
    Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol1 (Cambridge) p56-60
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p27
    Corfe, Tom (ed), 1992, 'The Visible Middle Ages' in An Historical Atlas of County Durhan p28-9
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p135
    Pevsner, Nikolaus (revised by Elizabeth Williamson), 1983, Buildings of England: County Durham (Harmondsworth) p117-9
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p194
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker) p115
    Hugill, Robert, 1979, The Castles and Towers of the County of Durham (Newcastle; Frank Graham) p40-43
    Colvin, H.M., Ransome, D.R. and Summerson, John, 1975, The history of the King's Works, vol3: 1485-1660 (part 1) (London) p404
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Leighton, 1910, in Memories of Old Durham (London) p203-4 [slight]
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p339-41
    Whellan, F., 1894 (2edn), History, Topography and Directory of the County of Durham p249-52
    Boyle,J.R., 1892, Comprehensive Guide to the County of Durham: its Castles, Churches, and Manor-Houses (London) p458-64
    Brayley, E. and Britton, J., 1803, Beauties of England and Wales; Durham Vol5 p200-2
    Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol3 p312-14
    Grose, Francis, 1787, The Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol2 p87-8
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol1 p81
• Journal Articles
  • Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p249-280]
    1890, The Monthly Chronicle; North Country Lore and Legend p371
    Hodgson, J.F., 1887-8, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Vol3 p415-8
    Pritchett, 1887, Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol43, 224-5
    1827, Gentlemans Magazine Vol97 pt1 p305-6
• Guidebooks
  • Short, E.W., 1942, The Story of Brancepeth Castle
    Surtees, C., 1920, The History of the Castle at Brancepeth
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/durhameng.html#durham8]
    Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p149
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol1 p71-2