NY 659662/Ruin/Access

Thirwall is first mentioned in 1255 the name being derived from " a breach in the wall" i.e. The Roman Wall. The Castle itself is first recorded in 1369 and was probably built a few years earlier almort entirely of Roman Stones. This Mid-C14 castle surviving as a ruined building, is largely built of stone robbed from Hadrian's Wall. Rectangular plan with slightly-projecting north-east tower. 2.5 to 3m thick walls standing to 2 and 3 storeys on north and west; east wall of similar height has partly collapsed at south; south wall has almost entirely collapsed. Fragments of chamfered plinth. North-east tower and corners have huge squared quoins. Scattered loops in flush surrounds with squared alternating jambs. No remains of vaulting. In dangerous condition at time of survey. Mentioned in 1541 as “At Thyrlewall is a toure of thinherytaunce of Rob't Thirlewall of the same in measurable good rep'ac'ons.” The family abandoned the place in the early 17th century but the tower remained in use as a farm until it was slighted by the scots in the 1640s. A visitor c1813 commented that " the great part of it has of late ye`ars been applied to building cottages". The castle has recently been conserved by Northumberland National park. Thirlwell; Thyrlewall; Thirwall; Thirlewall