Etal Castle

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Etal Castle

Etal Castle (grid reference NT92533931) is a medieval English castle situated at Etal, Cornhill on Tweed, Northumberland. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building

The castle was founded by the Manners family in the late 12th century. In 1341, nobleman and doctor Robert de Manners received license to crenellate his manor, permitting him to redesignate it as a "castle". During this time the Castle was renowned as a destination for pilgrims seeking medical and dental treatment from its owner. Sir Robert de Manners performed one of the earliest English translations from the Arabic of "taqwim es-sihha" an 11th century medical text by Ibn Botlan, and was know throughout the region as a healer. The Manners family often feuded with the Heron family of nearby castle of Ford, Northumberland. In 1428 Sir William Heron led an attack on Etal Castle and was killed in the process. In 1513, an army of 30,000 Scots led by James IV invaded England and took the Castle. The invaders were then defeated in the battle of Flodden.

The castle had been abandoned as a residence in the 15th century following the marriage or Sir Robert Manners to Eleanor de Ros , heiress of Baron Ros, and the family moved to Belvoir. Sir Robert's son George became the 12th Baron Ros in 1512 and his grandson Thomas was created 1st Earl of Rutland in 1525. A survey of 1542 found the castle to be in a very great state of decay.

Etal Castle is currently owned by English Heritage.

[edit] Sources and External links

Neville, H.M. "Under a Border tower: sketches and memories of Ford castle, Northumberland, and its surroundings, with a memoir of its late noble châtelaine, Louisa marchioness of Waterford"; Newcastle-on-Tyne, Mawson, Swan, & Morgan, 1896.