Cotherstone Castle

Cotherstone Castle is a medieval fortress in an English village, built on a mound-and-bailey design with earthen fortifications that still define the landscape. The site shows grass-covered mounds and ditches that trace where the defensive walls and structures once stood.

The castle was built around 1090 and later received royal permission to add crenellations, confirming its importance as a defensive stronghold in medieval England. It was part of the Norman fortification network that spread across the country after the 1066 conquest.

The castle site forms part of a network of historical monuments in County Durham that illustrate medieval military architecture and social organization.

The site is accessible via walking trails that lead across the grassy slopes, making it easy to explore on foot. Information boards are placed around the grounds to help you understand the original layout and features.

The earthworks reveal exactly where the original Norman defenses were positioned, letting visitors see the distinctive shape of a typical medieval fortification layout. This straightforward design was typical of how quickly the Normans built their strongholds after arriving in England.