Uhtred of Bamburgh; died c. 1016, was ruler of Bamburgh and from 1006 to 1016 the ealdorman of Northumbria. He was the son of Waltheof I, ruler of Bamburgh, whose family the Eadwulfings had ruled the surrounding region for over a century. 

The site upon which Bamburgh Castle sits was once occupied by the ancient Votadini tribe in around 800 BC, with the first mention of the castle itself dating back to 547 AD.

At this time, the Anglo Saxons invaded and captured Bamburgh Castle, establishing it as the royal citadel of their new capital Din Guayrdi, and the seat of the Northumbrian Kings. In the coming century Bamburgh was subjected to a barrage of attacks from Viking invaders, including one such in 993 in which it was set alight.

In 1095 a new threat would take Bamburgh from the Northumbrian Kings however – William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, seized the castle, building a fierce Keep in its centre. Remaining sections of this medieval structure can still be seen today, and are the oldest parts of the current Bamburgh Castle.

Over the years Bamburgh hosted many of England’s medieval kings from King John to Edward II, while under Henry III a great hall and glass windows were added to create a more comfortable stay.

During the Wars of the Roses, Bamburgh Castle was attacked by the Yorkist Edward IV, becoming the first castle in England to fall to gunpowder. In the years following the war Bamburgh fell into disrepair, and by the time it was put up for sale in 1894 it was half-derelict.

Its second lease of life came when it was purchased by William Armstrong, an industrialist entrepreneur often nicknamed the ‘Magician of the North’ for his innovative scientific discoveries. Armstrong restored Bamburgh Castle to the glorious state in which it is found today, and his family have lived there ever since.

Bamburgh Castle history

Today Bamburgh Castle is open for the public to explore its fascinating story and incredible coastal views. 14 state rooms are filled with artefacts and heirlooms from the site’s hundreds of years of history, while the magnificent King’s Hall is a masterpiece of Victorian design and features a host of artwork and stunning oak interiors.