Beautifully located on the peaceful coast of Bamburgh along the historical area of Northumberland, England, Bamburgh Castle, spanning 9 acres of land on its rocky plateau, is one of the most magnificent ancient fortresses of the middle ages. It is listed as one of England's finest medieval buildings that has been preserved because of its historical interest and impact on modern structural design.
More than any other castles in the United Kingdom, Bamburgh Castle is known to have been around since the creation of England in 547 the days when the Anglo-Saxons occupied most of England's territories subdivided into different Kingdoms until King Egbert of Wessex united it into one country. Bamburgh Castle, built on the basalt outcrop, is reportedly a former home of the native Britons until it was captured by the forces of Ida of Bernicia, an Anglo-Saxons ruler. When the aggressive warriors of the Vikings arrived, the fortress was completely destroyed.
It was rebuilt by the Normans on the 11th century and became a home of the Earl of Northumbria. In 1095 during the reign of King William II, the castle was forcibly taken by his troops and became a crown's property following the defeat of the Earl of Northumbria. It was besieged again with the troops of Richard Neville, the 16th Earl of Warwick during War of the Roses and became the first castle in England to be overtaken by the Yorks.
In the 18th century the castle was given to Sir John Forster and later on sold to the Bishop of Durham when Forster's descendants declared bankruptcy. Since then the castle passed to many owners until it was bought by William Armstrong, a wealthy engineer industrialist who founded the Armstrong Whitworth, a British manufacturing company dealing with armaments, aviation, ships, locomotives and automobiles businesses. Now, the castle's museum dominated the Armstrong aviation artifacts including artillery, weapons and engines used during World War I and World War II.
Bamburgh Castle was used as a film location of the movie, Robin Hood, in 2010
References:
Bamburgh Castle official website & Bamburgh Research Project
