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Lindisfarne Castle is a small castle set on a rock high above the sea. It is reached via an ancient causeway and is only accessible when the tide is out. It was built in 1549 after Henry VIII's dissolution of the Monasteries as a fortification to protect against Scottish raiders. Stones from the nearby ruined abbey of 635 were used in its construction, and the castle on its lofty perch is perhaps the most distinct and romantic feature of Lindisfarne.
The castle was taken by the Stuarts after the attack of 1715 but it was quickly returned to the English. Following a lengthy period of non-occupation the castle's guns were removed, and by the end of the 19th-century it had become a sadly neglected ruin.
Sensing the potential of the castle, and with a liking for its spectacular volcanic position, in 1901 Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life magazine bought it from the Crown. He appointed architect Sir Edwin Luytens to oversee the restoration of the castle, instructing him to create a lavish, comfortable interior. The conversion took several years and it was not until 1911 that Gertrude Jekyll was asked to plan the beautiful walled garden which lies to the north of the castle. Once completed the castle provided a perfect retreat where Hudson was able to entertain his friends.
In 1968 the magnificent rooms created for Edward Hudson by Luytens, lay empty once more and the castle was taken over by the National Trust. They have preserved it in its former splendour, and today it has the timeless look and feel of an English country home. Here you can see a mixture of treasures including English and Flemish antique furniture, tapestries and porcelain, whilst at the same time enjoying the castle's beautiful location with sea views stretching to far horizons.
The castle is open to the public.
in the county of Northumberland
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