[AJR]

From the Northern Echo, 20th April 2009

Fit for a king – the 16th Century holiday castle

A couple hope to turn the remains of a ruined 469-year-old castle into a spectacular holiday cottage. Niall and Caroline Hammond have spent £100,000 stabilising Scargill Castle, a couple of miles from Barningham, near Barnard Castle, after buying it for a token price of £100. It still has no running water or habitable rooms, so it could cost another £100,000 to create a kitchen, sitting room and bedroom suitable for a holiday for two people.

Mr. Hammond and his wife, both archaeologists who live at Lartington, seven miles from the castle, bought the ancient building ten years ago when it was in danger of collapsing and was on English Heritage’s at-risk register. He gave her the deeds as a wedding gift.

Television’s Time Team carried out a dig there for a programme that was screened in January, and found parts of a Tudor fireplace as well as some relics, including a James I farthing and two dice made of bone.

“We would now like to make it suitable for some use so that it generates some income which can ensure it can survive into the future,” said Mr. Hammond. “We don’t look on this as a money-making project. But if nothing is done the building will simply deteriorate and in 50 years’ time it will be back in danger again.”

Mr. Hammond’s proposal is to convert a tower for guests, using the ground floor as a kitchen, the first floor as a sitting room and the top section as a bedroom. The building would be equipped with period furnishings and fittings, so that a stay in it would be a special experience.

“But we still have a long way to go to bring in electricity and water and to create a septic tank,” he said. “Then the three rooms will have to be fitted out and the courtyard sorted out.”

Mr. Hammond has not yet worked out the full costs, but agreed it could be in the region of £100,000. He received some grants for the stabilising work and could receive more for the further work.

Though the castle dates from 1540 there was an earlier one on the site from the 12th Century. There was a legend that King Edward II stayed in it, but historians now say this is unlikely. The castle’s only battle experiences came during World War II, when the Home Guard used it as a training area and threw hand grenades into it. At other times it has been owned by farming families.

Council planners have discussed the holiday home proposal and are generally in favour, subject to details being agreed.

[Gordon]

Interesting place that, though in the 'Time Team' programme Mick Aston disputed it's credentials as a castle, and down played it by calling it a fortified manor. It showed what a narrow definition of a castle he has. I felt quite disappointed in him.