Description:

Around 1335, John Thirlwall built a stronghold that safeguarded his family and descendants for the next 300 years, playing a key role in defending the English Border from Scottish raids. After the Union of the Scottish and English Crowns in 1603 brought more peaceful times, these fortifications became unnecessary. By the 1660s, the Thirlwalls had relocated to Hexham, drawn by its richer land and milder climate.