posted 02-13-2001 09:42 AM           

• CHILLINGHAM CASTLE, five miles south-east of Wooler, is an appealing blend of medieval stronghold and Jacobean mansion set in landscaped grounds. The white cattle of Chihingham — the only wild cattle left in England — have roamed the park here since medieval times. In 1296 the Scots descended upon Chillingham and set fire to the manor house, but it was not until 1344 that Sir Thomas de Heaton obtained a licence to crenellate. His castle is one of only two standard quadrangular castles in Northumberland. It is still complete but subsequent alterations have been considerable. The four corners are guarded by massive, oblong towers, none of them projecting at all beyond the curtain. It has been suggested that the south-west tower is an older tower house, though evidently not much older. Except on the north the buildings around the courtyard are all medieval in origin, as their barrel-vaulted undercrofts testify The south range has always contained the hall but the position of the original entrance to the castle is uncertain.
  In the sixteenth century, after Chillingham had passed to the Greys, the internal buildings and the two north corner towers were largely rebuilt. The latter may have been necessary as a result of damage sustained in 1536, when the castle was bombarded by the rebel army of the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’. With the Border still a restless place the reconstruction was undertaken with defensive considerations fully in mind. A different spirit prevailed circa 1620 when a second great remodelling commenced. The north range of the castle was rebuilt as a grand entrance front in the Classical idiom, a design attributed doubtfully to Inigo Jones. It was during this phase that the courtyard attained its present appearance, with a peculiar gallery placed in front of the hall range.
  

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And the astronomyours beheldyne the constellacions of hys bryth by thare castle, and foundyn that he sholde bene wyse and curteyse, good of consaill
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