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Thirlwall Castle


 

Thirlwall Castle is a 12th-century castle in Northumberland, England, on the bank of the River Tipalt close to the village of Greenhead and approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Hexham. It was built in the 12th century, and later strengthened using stones from nearby Hadrian's Wall, but began to fall into disrepair in the 17th century. The site is protected by Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument status.

Meaning of name "Thirlwall"

"Thirlwall" combines Middle English "Thirl", contracted with "wall"; in context, reference and proximity to Roman-built Hadrian's Wall from which Thirlwall Castle was materially built. `Thirl' verb means "perforated-" or noun "bored-wall", from the Old English þyrel, þyrl, "a hole made through anything, an aperture, orifice" and weall "wall". As used and described in an Atlantic Monthly article, it is referenced as "a small passage built into a wall to allow sheep but not cattle to pass through ... a thirl, or a thawl". In Greek, the word `Thura' "θύρα thýra, [pronounced] thoo'-rah; apparently a primary word (compare "door"); a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively):—door, gate.". The middle English noun `thirl' likewise references a portal; a through passage, gate or door [`thura'] through which lambs enter in. Book of John (KJV), tenth chapter conveys this same meaning: "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door [`thura'] of the sheep. I am the door [`thura']: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:7;9). "Thirl", corresponding identically in meaning to Greek "thura", conjoined with "wall" then forms "Thirlwall" having reference to Roman-built Hadrian's Wall between Northeast England and Scotland in Northumbria.

History

The home of the Thirlwall family, it was fortified in about 1330 by John Thirlwall. In a survey of 1542 it was reported as in the ownership of Robert Thirlwall and in a 'measurable good' state of repair.

Sir Percival Thirlwall of Thirlwall Castle was killed at the Battle of Bosworth whilst fighting in the Yorkist cause on 22 August 1485. He was Richard’s standard-bearer in the final charge at Bosworth. He held up the standard even after his legs had been cut from under him (possible source Bennett, Michael. The Battle of Bosworth, 1985, rev. 1993. pp. 114 and 116).

Post medieval

Eleanor Thirwall, the last of the Thirlwall family line, abandoned the castle as a residence and the estate passed to the Swinburne family by her 1738 marriage to Matthew Swinburne of Capheaton Hall. Swinburne sold the estate to the Earl of Carlisle for £4000 in 1748.

Thereafter the castle fell into decay. In 1832 and again in 1982 there were serious collapses of masonry.

In 1999 the Northumberland National Park Authority took over the management of the castle, protecting it from further dereliction.

Text from Wikipedia, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (accessed: 08/05/2018).
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Greenhead Thirlwall Township, 1848 Historic Buildings and Monuments in Thirlwall Civil Parish Tipalt Burn Gilsland Grade I Listed Greenhead Thirlwall Castles
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Part of the ruins of the Thirlwall Castle. #upsticksandgo #thirlwallcastle #hadrianswall #history #travel #tourist #travellingtheworld #michfrost #uk

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A little more of the Thirlwall Castle ruins ... #upsticksandgo #thirlwallcastle #history #explore #travel #travellingtheworld #michfrost #uk

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Thirlwall Castle

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The Tipal Burn at Holmehead

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Thirlwall Castle

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Greenhead
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Greenhead
- Overview About Greenhead Map Street View Greenhead is a village in Northumberland, located about 3 miles west of Haltwistle (there is also another village called Greenhead in Shotley Low Quater). St Cuthbert's Church …
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Image taken from page 531 of 'The Local Historian's Table Book of remarkable occurrences, historical facts, traditions, legendary and descriptive ballads, connected with the Counties of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham. Historical Division.

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Image taken from page 256 of 'The Local Historian's Table Book of remarkable occurrences, historical facts, traditions, legendary and descriptive ballads, connected with the Counties of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham. Historical Division.

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Gilsland
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Gilsland
- Overview About Gilsland Map Street View Gilsland is a village which straddles the border between the counties of Cumbria and Northumberland. Gilsland is a village in northern England about 20 miles …
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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle from track above Holmhead

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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Inside Thirlwall Castle

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Thirlwall Castle

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Hadrian's Wall - Thirlwall Castle print

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Thirlwall Castle.

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List grade: 1
List number: 1302433
County: Northumberland
Grid ref: NY6593966154
Wikipedia: Thirlwall Castle

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