Bywell Castle Gatehouse

This is an early 15th-century gatehouse, built for Ralph Neville, second Earl of Westmorland, at Bywell Castle. The structure incorporates reused Roman stonework and is constructed of squared stone. It served as a tower house and gatehouse, with principal apartments above a central gate passage and flanked by chambers.

The external south elevation is three stories high and features a chamfered plinth and a first floor that is set back. A central, four-centred gateway arch, composed of two chamfered orders, contains a portcullis slot and old pegged and panelled double doors; a smaller porter’s door is located to the left. Small, square-headed openings of a post-medieval date are present on either side of the arch. The first floor has two windows with two trefoil-headed lights within Tudor arches, along with a square-headed, chamfered window to the left; two more windows of a similar design are located on the second floor. Most of the two-light windows have lost their mullions. The embattled parapet overhangs a hollow-chamfered course, with the central section projecting forward, supported by five moulded corbels. The taller angle turrets have corbelled-out octagonal tops with machicolations. To the right is an attached curtain wall.

The left return shows a corbelled-out garderobe projection and small, chamfered windows. The right return reveals a partly-blocked two-light window on the first floor and a blocked doorway leading to the wall walk on the left. The rear elevation displays similar detailing to the front; part of the parapet has fallen.

The interior includes a barrel-vaulted gate passage and flanking chambers. Tudor-arched doorways lead to a mural stair with an old iron yett. A newel stair is located in the northwest corner of the first floor. First- and second-floor garderobes are situated in the northeast and southwest corners respectively. Chamfered-arched fireplaces are present, with one second-floor fireplace featuring a shoddered lintel, and segmental rear arches to the windows. A cross wall with a doorway divides the first floor into a hall and a solar. The second floor and roof are missing.

Historical records indicate that Henry VI sheltered at the gatehouse during his flight after the Battle of Hexham in 1464, abandoning his sword, helmet, and crown. These items were later found by Lord Montagu, who subsequently captured the castle. It appears the castle was never completed beyond this tower house and gatehouse, comparable to structures at Dunstanburgh, Bothal, and Willimoteswick.