Simonburn Castle

Simonburn Castle is a ruin of a tower house dating from the 13th century, which was partly reconstructed in 1766 to serve as an eyecatcher from Nunwick Hall. It features dressed stone facing over a rubble core and has a square plan. The remains are located on a tree-covered mound. The ground floor, which has a semicircular barrel vault, is currently inaccessible. The east wall is the best preserved, standing about 4.0 metres high at the center. It includes a small window opening near the south-east corner, an open passage leading to a pointed, chamfered doorway at the north-east corner, and a section of a segmental arch in the wall to the north of the doorway. The rest of the structure has collapsed, and any remaining features are obscured by fallen masonry. The site is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.