NZ 092634/Ruin/EH

The Castle stands on a steep slope above the South bank of the River Tyne. On the probable site of a an earlier wooden stronghold. The Castle is considered by some to have been built in late Norman times by Ordinel de Umfraville the son of Robert when the barony of Prudhoe was added to the district of Redesdale held by the Umfravilles by Henry I. Passing through many hands over the centuries in 1808-10 High Smithson, Earl of Northumberland repaired the keep and the curtain wall, cleared the ruined domestic buildings and built a new house for the resident steward. It was handed over to the care of the state in 1965. The shape of a figure of eight, the inner and outer baileys, now separated by a Georgian manor house built on the site of earlier residential buildings. Within the inner bailey, the most substantial building is C12 great tower. Originally two storeys high, extended in C14/C15 to provide a further level with turrets. Only the south west turret still exists. Adjacent to the great tower lie a range of C13 buildings. Towards the west of the inner bailey are two rounded towers, also dating from C13. The tower in the north west corner of the bailey is virtually intact, whereas only the base remains of the south west tower. Of several early buildings contained in the outer ward, C12 great hall foundations are visible and a C12 gatehouse with C13 chapel above survive. Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Prodhom