Blenkinsopp Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Greenhead, England.
Blenkinsopp Castle is a ruined fortified structure near Greenhead in Northumberland, England, originally built as a tower house in the 14th century. What remains today are sections of medieval stonework that show clear signs of damage from a fire in the 19th century.
The Blenkinsopp family received permission in 1340 to strengthen their property with walls and deep trenches around it. Over the following centuries the building gradually lost its role, and the family eventually left it behind.
The name Blenkinsopp comes from old Celtic words that describe the hill and the valley below it. Walking the grounds today, visitors can still see how well the name fits the natural shape of the land around the ruins.
The ruins sit on a hillside above Tipalt Burn and can only be reached on foot across uneven ground. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, and visitors should take care when walking close to the old walls.
A report written in 1541 already described the roof as crumbling and the tower as weakening, even though the family had not yet left. This means the structure had been falling apart for decades before it was officially abandoned.
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