Clan Rising

Heaton Castle

Heaton Castle (anciently Heton) was a medieval quadrangular stone castle near the River Till in Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, long held by the de Grey family. Rebuilt about 1415, it was slighted in 1496 and today survives only as fragments incorporated into later farm outbuildings and earthworks.

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Its prime

1415

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1415

What Heaton Castle looked like in its prime.

A four-sided (quadrangular) stone castle with curtain walls enclosing a central courtyard and service ranges; a long stone barrel vault ran as part of a vaulted service or stable block. Surviving fabric in later times included two buttresses against the north-east wall of the stable-block, the remains of a small turret and adjoining rampart earthworks. The site stands on an elevated bank above the south side of the River Till in a rural agricultural landscape near the Tweed border.

Its story

The story of Heaton Castle.

Heaton was the seat of the de Heton family, who as was usual took their name from it, before passing about 1250 to a branch of the prominent de Grey family, descended from a follower of William FitzOsbern who fought at Hastings. Sir Thomas Grey (d. 1344) was an eminent soldier of the Anglo-Scottish wars, and in 1415 the Greys rebuilt Heaton as a quadrangular castle.

On 24 September 1496 James IV of Scotland, invading with the pretender Perkin Warbeck in the 'Raid of Ellem', set miners to slight the castle and paid his masons a bonus to work through the night; a horse was killed hauling a gun into position at the 'siege of Heaton'.

A survey of 1541 called Heaton 'ruinous', though a later report found 'a vault that a hundred horses may stand in'. Rebuilding attempts in the 1580s failed when the Greys fell into a funding dispute with the Crown, and the remnants now survive in the walls of outbuildings at the farm of Castle Heaton.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1415.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Heaton Castle, including 1 interior: long barrel-vaulted service/stable 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.

Approach from the south bank of the River TillRampart and earthworks outside the curtain wallCurtain walls and central courtyardLong barrel-vaulted service/stable interiorNorth-east stable wall with buttressesTurret and wall junction

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Whose castle

Clans who held Heaton Castle.

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

  • Heton

    Original seat of the de Heton family, who took their name from it, until about 1250.

  • Grey

    Held by a branch of the de Grey family from about 1250; they rebuilt it as a quadrangular castle in 1415 and attempted repairs into the 1580s.

Questions about Heaton Castle

What is the history of Heaton Castle?

Heaton Castle began as the seat of the de Heton family and was rebuilt as a quadrangular castle in 1415. It passed to a branch of the de Grey family about 1250. James IV of Scotland slighted it in 1496, and later rebuilding attempts in the 1580s failed after a dispute with the Crown over funding.

What is inside Heaton Castle?

Inside Heaton Castle, the surviving feature is a long barrel-vaulted service or stable interior. A later report described it as “a vault that a hundred horses may stand in”. The castle originally had service ranges around a central courtyard, but the remaining building is incorporated into later farm outbuildings.

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

Heaton Castle was built as a fortified quadrangular residence for the de Heton and later de Grey families. Its curtain walls enclosed a central courtyard and service ranges. After it was slighted in 1496, its remains were adapted into buildings with stone vaults, while repair and rebuilding attempts in the 1580s failed.

Where is Heaton Castle?

Heaton Castle is near Cornhill-on-Tweed, above the south bank of the River Till in Northumberland. It stands in an elevated position near the Scottish border, about 4 miles north-east of Coldstream and 9 miles south-west of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

When was Heaton Castle built?

Heaton Castle was rebuilt in 1415, although the date when the first castle was raised is not recorded. The 1415 rebuilding produced the quadrangular stone castle associated with the de Grey family. It was later described as ruinous in a 1541 survey.

Was Heaton Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Heaton Castle was attacked and slighted by James IV of Scotland on 24 September 1496. The attack took place during the Raid of Ellem, when James IV invaded with the pretender Perkin Warbeck. Miners worked to demolish the castle, while a horse was killed hauling a gun into position; the castle did not remain intact.

Which family or clan held Heaton Castle?

Heaton Castle was first held by the de Heton family until about 1250, after which a branch of the de Grey family held it. The de Grey family rebuilt it as a quadrangular castle in 1415 and attempted repairs into the 1580s.

What did Heaton Castle look like in its prime?

Heaton Castle was a four-sided stone castle with curtain walls enclosing a central courtyard and service ranges. Its long stone barrel vault formed part of a service or stable block. Other features included two buttresses on the north-east stable wall, a small turret and adjoining rampart earthworks, set on an elevated bank above the River Till.

Is Heaton Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Heaton Castle is a ruin, with only fragments surviving. The remaining fabric includes parts of later farm outbuildings, two buttresses against the north-east wall of a stable-block, probable turret and rampart remains, and a long barrel vault. A 1541 survey already described the castle as “ruinous”.

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