Norham Castle

Norham Castle is a ruined medieval fortress on the south bank of the River Tweed, historically built and held by the bishops of Durham as a border stronghold. The castle dates from the 12th century and is a visually prominent ruin close to the England-Scotland border.

Walkable ruins include substantial stretches of curtain wall, the remains of the keep and towers, and wide views across the River Tweed into Scotland. The site has visible masonry remains and open grassed areas that are popular with visitors and photographers.

Originally constructed by the bishops of Durham from the 12th century, the castle served as a major fortress in the decades of Anglo-Scottish conflict and endured repeated sieges and repairs over the medieval period. Largely ruined by the later medieval and early modern centuries, it has been conserved as an historic ruin.

Sited beside the River Tweed near the village of Norham in Northumberland, England, the castle stands close to the border with Scotland and is reachable by road from surrounding towns.

• Heritage management: Managed as a scheduled historic monument and cared for by a national heritage organisation, open to visitors as a printed-interpretation site with river views.
• Artistic significance: The remains featured in paintings by J.M.W. Turner and other artists, making the ruin notable in British landscape art.

What to See #

• Keep and curtain walls: The main defensive keep and inner buildings of the medieval fortress; the ruin retains tall curtain walls and fragments of towers visible from the riverbank.
• Gatehouse and approach: The fortified gatehouse and approach area, which formed the entrance to the castle and is preserved as part of the surviving ruins.