Dunstanburgh Castle North East England

The approach to Dunstanburgh hasn’t changed since the middle ages, no road leads to the castle, cars cannot get closer than 2 miles.  At first this seems like an inconvenience but the walk to the castle along the coast, the unchanged setting in which it sits, you comes to realise that it is perfect, exactly as it is.  Dunstanburgh’s setting is its charm, its impossible to approach and not think of all those people who walked the path before you over hundreds of years.  They may have seen a more complete castle but otherwise the view is identical. 

The castle ruins possess a drama, that enhanced by its setting, surpasses many other medieval buildings.  Begun in the early, 14th century by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster.  By the end of the 14th century it was owned by John of Gaunt who reformed the castle and built a new entrance.  

The castle defences were never needed until the 15th century when it was twice designed during the Wars of the Roses. 

The principle remains are of the gatehouse.  In 1313 Thomas of Lancaster ordered Master Elias the mason to build ‘a gatehouse 80 feet hire with a tower on either side of the gate’ even today this description is fitting. 

 Most gatehouses were three stories but 80 feet would mean Dunstanburgh’s gatehouse was 5 stories high.  The castle also had its own private harbour so goods and visitors could arrive by sea.