England · Ruin
Wark on Tweed Castle
Wark on Tweed Castle is a ruined motte-and-bailey castle at the west end of Wark on Tweed in Northumberland. Built in the 12th century and extensively refortified through the medieval and early Tudor periods, it once had an octagonal donjon, multiple wards and a gatehouse; only earthworks and fragmentary stonework remain today as a scheduled/listed ruin.
Its prime
1518
Today
Ruin
As it stood in 1518
The shape it held in its prime.
A large, grass-covered motte rises from pasture with the lower face of its stone keep exposed in a broken sweep; the surviving masonry is pale, weathered rubble set into the earthen slope. The summit would have supported an octagonal donjon with a roughly vertical stone profile and battlements, surrounded by terraced earthworks and the footprints of multiple wards and curtain lines extending out into low baileys.
Its story
The story of Wark on Tweed Castle.
Wark on Tweed Castle, sometimes called Carham Castle, was built by Walter Espec in 1136, destroyed by the Scots following a siege in 1138, and rebuilt between 1157 and 1161. A motte-and-bailey at the west end of Wark on Tweed in Northumberland, it once carried an octagonal donjon, multiple wards and a gatehouse.
In November 1522 a Scottish army under Regent Albany besieged Wark, and Sir William Lisle defended the castle against the French assault troops, helped by bad weather; the Earl of Surrey wrote that newly built bulwarks of earth had made it better able to withstand a siege. Viewing the defences in September 1523 with the Chancellor of Durham and the Sheriff of Durham, Surrey judged the inner ward could withstand a ten-day siege but the outer ward only two days — and noted the roofs were leaking.
When Scotland and England were at war again in 1557, Sir Ralph Grey passed control of the castle to the crown and it was defended by Sir John Slingsby, a brother-in-law of the Earl of Northumberland. James VI of Scotland, passing on the far side of the Tweed on 26 April 1588, was saluted by the castle cannon and sent a reward of 20 crowns. Only earthworks and fragmentary stonework remain, a Grade II* listed ruin.
Step inside
7 places to explore in 1518.
The record describes 7 distinct spots at Wark on Tweed Castle — including 1 interior: donjon interior with vaulted floors and central well. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Wark on Tweed Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1518 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →Whose castle
Clans who held Wark on Tweed Castle.
The families that held Wark on Tweed Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Grey
Held by Sir Ralph Grey, who passed control to the crown on the outbreak of war in 1557.
