Horton Castle, Chatton
Has been described as a Certain Tower House, and also as a Certain Fortified Manor House
There are uncertain remains
| Name | Horton Castle, Chatton |
| Alternative Names | Horton in Glendale; West Horton |
| Historic Country | Northumberland |
| Modern Authority | Northumberland |
| 1974 Authority | Northumberland |
| Civil Parish | Chatton |
Horton Castle was first mentioned in a list of castles from 1415. In 1542 it was described as a 'great tower'. By 1715 it was in a ruined state, though it was repaired and from 1740 to 1808 it was used as a house. It was finally demolished in the early C19. Nothing can be seen at the site today except for a few fragments of worked stone. (Keys to the Past)
Mentioned in a list of fortresses of 1415 and in another of the early 16th century when it could hold a garrison of 60 men. In 1542 the Border Commissions described it as a great tower with a barmkin in decay. In 1715 it is described as an ancient edifice, but now ruinous. It must have been repaired about 1740 as for more than 60 years before 1808 it was the home of the WERGE family. It was demolished after that date to make way for a farmhouse.
The castle has now disappeared except for a few fragments of masonry in the farm buildings at West Horton (Dodds 1935; Bates 1891; Hodgson 1916; Hodgson 1820; Hodgson 1828).
Remains of Horton Castle upon a level piece of ground on the property of West Horton Farm. The site is bounded by steep natural slopes on the E. side which drop to the modern road, and a stream below the road. There is higher land to the N. and W., and low lying land to the S.
The remains of the Castle consist of two fragment of stone, the larger one, about 1m sq, and 0.8m high appears to be in situ. There is an adjacent water supply.
Mr Robson Murray, farmer-owner, could offer no further information (F1 ASP 08-DEC-55).
The site of this castle is featureless, except for a few fragments of scattered masonry. The fragment of stone described by F.I. as 'in situ' is quite loose (F2 WD 25-FEB-64).
It was rebuilt between 1568 and 1674, a drawing of 1728 depicting a a high wall with corner turrets enclosing a garden with a roofless ruin, that is a fortified manor house
The buildings were demolished in 1808, and the stone used to build West Horton Farm now stands at the foot of the knoll on which the tower house once stood (Dodds 1999; King 1983) (PastScape)
Not scheduled
Not Listed
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | NU027308 |
| Latitude | 55.5715293884277 |
| Longitude | -1.95829999446869 |
| Eastings | 402730 |
| Northings | 630870 |
