Bowes Castle, Bowes Village

(Bowes Castle, old main gate view.)

Even now Bowes castle is still an imposing structure!

The castle is thought to have been built by Alan, Earl of Richmond, soon after the Norman conquest of 1066 on the site of the old Roman fort, a date of 1087 indicating how strategic the location was to the Norman conquerors. It appears to have been involved in considerable conflict over the centuries with reports of it having been besieged as early as 1173 by King William of Scotland. It was apparently so badly damaged as to have required rebuilding in 1187. Around 1216 enemies of King John again besieged the castle, and again in 1322 in a regional feud between Henry Fitzhugh and the then Earl of Richmond. The castle keep we see now stands testimony to the choice of site and the quality of the 1087 construction and 1173 reconstruction.

Bowes is on the Roman road through Stainmore which led to Cataractonium on the other side of the pennines and it appears as though the castle was constructed on the foundations of the Lavatrae Roman Fort. The present ruins of the castle are fifty-three feet in height, the remains being of the keep, surrounded on two sides by the remains of an original inner moat. There are few remains of the original bailey wall but it is possible to climb up part of the inside of the keep itself.

Bowes Castle in Summer

Bowes Castle in Winter

Go Inside Bowes Castle

(COMING SOON)

See What Bowes Castle Used to Look Like

Castles: Their Construction and History
Click Below For More Details!

English Heritage Official Site

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