Chipchase Castle
Northumberland, England
Photo: Dr John Wells, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Private owner (Elkington family)
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Limited tour days
- Nearest station
- Haydon Bridge, 7.5 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- 14th-century pele tower absorbed into a 1621 Jacobean mansion; Grade I listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Pinpoint
2 Chipchase Castle Cottages, Wark, Hexham NE48 3NT
Telephone 01434 230203
A fourteenth-century pele tower absorbed into a Jacobean mansion built in 1621, still a private family home in Northumberland. The castle interior opens for guided tours on a handful of dates each year, alongside the chapel and gardens in the grounds.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The pele tower core - a genuine medieval defensive tower still standing inside the later Jacobean house built around it.
Before you go
Interior tours are cash-only and run on limited dates, reviewers mention roughly £8-12 per person - check the current calendar before travelling.
What visitors say
Chipchase Castle reviews · 4.4 / 5 across 36 Google reviews
Reviewers who caught the limited June opening consistently praise the guided tour and the guide's own enthusiasm for the house's history, along with access to the chapel and gardens.
Several note it isn't heavily promoted, which some see as part of its appeal - smaller groups, less crowding.
More than one reviewer flags that it's only open on specific afternoons, so checking the website before travelling is repeatedly recommended.
“Wonderful visit Part of house was open to public and went on informative guided tour by a lovely lady. Fabulous grounds”- lindaon pearsson, visitor review
Within reach of Newcastle (24 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Weddings at Chipchase Castle
Chipchase Castle is on our wedding roll because Private owner (Elkington family) mentions weddings on their own site. Visit their site.
Comparing options? See every castle wedding venue in England, or the full UK wedding roll.
Dates, capacity, licensing and exclusivity change constantly and we hold none of it - treat this as a starting point and speak to the venue before you plan anything around it.
History
Walter Heron
A 14th-century pele tower built by the Heron family was dramatically transformed in 1621 when Cuthbert Heron demolished the surrounding buildings and constructed a grand Jacobean mansion around it. The estate changed ownership several times before becoming a private family home.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Carpark in front of the house, use the main entrance from the road to access it as there is no brown signs.” - Ashley Lightfoot
- Guided tours
- “Chipchase is still a private house but for £8 per person, you can get a guided tour of part of to house.” - Ashley Lightfoot
Common questions about Chipchase Castle
Where is Chipchase Castle?
Chipchase Castle is in Northumberland, England, at 2 Chipchase Castle Cottages, Wark, Hexham NE48 3NT.
How do you visit Chipchase Castle?
Chipchase Castle opens on limited tour days rather than every day, and is looked after by Private owner (Elkington family). Because the dates are restricted, check the official site and book ahead before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Chipchase Castle?
The pele tower core - a genuine medieval defensive tower still standing inside the later Jacobean house built around it.
Is Chipchase Castle a ruin or still intact?
Chipchase Castle is largely intact - 14th-century pele tower absorbed into a 1621 Jacobean mansion; Grade I listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
