Clan Rising
Callaly Castle today

England · Restored

Callaly Castle

Callaly Castle is a Grade I listed substantial country house north of the village of Callaly in Northumberland. The present house incorporates an earlier medieval pele tower and was built from 1619 with major alterations in 1676 and 1707; it remained the Clavering family seat and later underwent restoration in the 1890s and was subdivided into residential wings in 1987.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1707

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1707

What Callaly Castle looked like in its prime.

A long, rectangular two-storey ashlar country house with a straight, regular façade of evenly spaced sash windows and a low roofline, set in open parkland with scattered trees and lawns. One end of the range incorporates an older medieval pele tower as the west wing, giving a slight asymmetry to the block. Nearby are walled pleasure gardens and gently rising earthworks of an older motte and hill fort; the house and grounds are finished in pale local stone.

Its story

The story of Callaly Castle.

Callaly stands near the site of a 12th-century motte castle and an Iron Age hill fort. A pele tower raised in the 14th or 15th century was incorporated as the west wing of a new house built by John Clavering in 1619; the architect Robert Trollope made the first major additions in 1676, and further alterations in 1707 more or less concealed all the earlier features.

The house was for many years the home of the Catholic Clavering family and incorporated a Roman Catholic chapel, deconsecrated when the Claverings sold the property in 1877. The gardens had been reconfigured in 1770, possibly by the Kennedy brothers, leading gardeners and nurserymen who created a similar three-walled pleasure garden at Croxdale Hall for the Salvins, another Catholic family with Clavering connections.

The new owner Alexander Browne carried out major restoration in the 1890s, and in 1987 the architect Kit Martin divided the Grade I listed house into residential wings.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1707.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Callaly Castle, including 1 interior: private roman catholic chapel (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Parkland approach / meadow viewMain façade and central entranceWest wing (incorporated pele tower) exteriorPrivate Roman Catholic chapel (interior)Three-walled pleasure gardenNearby motte and Iron Age hill fort earthworks

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Whose castle

Clans who held Callaly Castle.

The families that held Callaly Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Clavering

    For many years the home of the Clavering family, who built the 1619 house; sold in 1877.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Callaly Castle.

Questions about Callaly Castle

What is the history of Callaly Castle?

Callaly Castle’s present house was built in the 17th century, incorporating a 14th- or 15th-century pele tower. John Clavering built the new house in 1619; Robert Trollope made major additions in 1676, and further alterations in 1707 concealed much of the earlier fabric. The Clavering family lived there for many years, before selling the property in 1877. Restoration followed in the 1890s, and the house was divided into residential wings in 1987.

What is inside Callaly Castle?

Inside Callaly Castle is a private Roman Catholic chapel. The chapel was incorporated into the house and was deconsecrated when the Clavering family sold the property in 1877. In 1987, the Grade I listed house was divided into residential wings.

Why was Callaly Castle built, and what was it used for?

Callaly Castle was built as a country house for the Clavering family, incorporating an earlier pele tower. The earlier tower dates from the 14th or 15th century, while John Clavering’s new house was built in 1619. It remained the Clavering family home for many years and later became divided into residential wings in 1987.

Where is Callaly Castle?

Callaly Castle is north of the village of Callaly in Northumberland. It is about 14.5 km west of Alnwick and stands near the site of a 12th-century motte castle and an Iron Age hill fort. The house is set in open parkland, with pleasure gardens and earthworks nearby.

When was Callaly Castle built?

Callaly Castle was built in the 17th century, with the present house begun in 1619. It incorporates a 14th- or 15th-century pele tower, received major additions in 1676, and was altered further in 1707. The first-raised year is not recorded, so the castle’s construction is best described as a sequence of phases rather than a single date.

Which family or clan held Callaly Castle?

The Clavering family held Callaly Castle for many years. They built the 1619 house, which remained their home until they sold the property in 1877. The house included a Roman Catholic chapel during their ownership.

What did Callaly Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Callaly Castle was a long, rectangular two-storey ashlar country house with an evenly spaced sash-window façade and a low roofline. Its west wing incorporates an older medieval pele tower, creating slight asymmetry. The house and grounds use pale local stone and include open parkland, lawns, scattered trees and a three-walled pleasure garden.

Is Callaly Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Callaly Castle is still standing and is restored, rather than a ruin. The house was restored extensively by its new owner Alexander Browne in the 1890s, after alterations in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its present structure incorporates the earlier medieval pele tower, although alterations in 1707 concealed much of the earlier fabric.
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