Lumley Castle, Quadrangular castle in Little Lumley, England
Lumley Castle is a castle in the village of Little Lumley in County Durham, where four stone towers are connected by wings of buildings to form a rectangular courtyard. The architecture shows elements from several centuries, including Gothic windows and later additions in Georgian style.
Ralph de Lumley converted his manor house into a castle in 1389 and received royal permission to fortify it. After joining a conspiracy against Henry IV, he was executed in 1400 and his property was seized.
The name comes from Ralph de Lumley, who lived here in the late 14th century and gave the estate its present shape. Visitors can attend dinners where staff dress in historical clothing to recreate English court life and serve dishes from old recipes.
The building operates as a hotel with 73 rooms spread across the main structure and around the courtyard. Guests can explore the public rooms and attend historical evening events, which require advance booking.
One suite is named after James I, who stayed here in 1603 on his way to London and was lodged in a converted chapel. The room still shows traces of its religious use, though it has long served as living quarters.
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