[AJR]

Bellister Castle - Ordnance Survey Map Reference  NY 701630

Bellister Castle is an L-shaped 13th century bastle tower in the county of Northumberland, which stands on an oval motte 5m high, the summit measuring 46m by 31m.  It lies close to the South Tyne River, and was once surrounded by a moat 2m deep.  The tower was built from Roman stone and had a barrel vaulted basement.



Above : Bellister Castle, from the road, showing the motte - August 1998

In the 17th century a mansion was added to it, but was entirely destroyed by fire, being rebuilt and restored and enlarged by Daniel Jackson M.D. of Netherton in 1906.  However, it is still possible to detect some of the old windows. Gardens and outbuildings to the east may lie on the site of a bailey.  Hodgson described the castle as a "grey and goodly pile of ruined towers, with modern inhabited additions in the castellated style and in good taste".  
The name Bellister is a derivation of Bella ceaster, meaning Bella's chester or Bella's Place.  The bastle tower was acquired by Gerrard Salveyn in 1312, but was confiscated from him around 1354.  John de Blenkinsopp is said to have built the tower that can be seen today, in the 1480s, shortly after coming into possession of the lands.  It is the Blenkinsopps who are the most well known owners of Bellister.
The main block measures 15m by 7m, with a wing measuring 10m by 5m attached to the south-west corner.  Walls measure between 1.5m and 2.1m in thickness, and still stand up to 10m in height.  The ruined tower was sold to John Bacon around 1715, and later passed by marriage to the Reverend Henry Westall.  He sold it to John Kirsop of Wrexham in 1818.  The Jackson family lived here from around 1890 to 1975, when it was handed over to The National Trust, who in turn let it to tenants.
The castle is now easy to miss since the new A69 road has been built, bypassing Haltwhistle.  It is located south of the bypass up a small lane, on private land.  The castle is best viewed from the private lane and the field adjoining it.  The castle is open by prior appointment only.



Above : Bellister Castle, northern front, from the driveway - August 1998

There is a legend that says the ghost of a Grey Man haunts Bellister.  In the days of the Border Reivers, when the castle was the home of Lord Blenkinsopp, a wandering minstrel called at the tower and was afforded, as was the custom, food and a nights lodgings, in return for some tales and songs.  However, Lord Blenkinsopp became suspicious of the minstrel and decided he was up to no good. The more he observed the stranger the more convinced he was that he was right.  The minstrel had not failed to notice the hostile attitude of his host, and instead of retiring to the bed that had been prepared for him, he slipped outside where he felt less vulnerable.
This was a mistake, and only confirmed the great lord's fears.  He promptly called to his servants to bring his hounds and they went in pursuit of the minstrel, who, realising the danger, ran for his life.  Unfortunately his pursuers ran faster and the dogs caught up with up by the banks of the river. When the lord arrived with his men they were too late to call off the hounds.  The minstrel had been ripped to pieces.
For the rest of his life the lord was haunted by visits of the minstrel, pointing an accusing finger at him.  Locals insist that at night they hear the baying of the hounds and the terrified shrieks of an old man.



Taken from Mike Salter's "The Castles & Tower Houses of Northumberland"



Above : Bellister Castle, showing modern addition - August 1998

Bibliography

Kinross, John : Discovering Castles in England & Wales : Shire Publications Ltd., First Edition, 1973; Second Edition, 1984; Reprinted, 1990 & 1995
Rowland, T.H. : Medieval Castles, Towers, Peles & Bastles of Northumberland : Sandhill Press, First Edition, 1987 ; Reprinted, 1994
Salter, Mike : The Castles & Tower Houses of Northumberland : Folly Publications, December 1997

[AJR]

Please feel free to post any comments and additional information.  Thanks.

[AJR]

From The Observer, 22nd February 22, 2004

The National Trust wants a tenant for Bellister Castle in Northumberland, a seventeenth-century house with a ruined tower and a memorable ghost story. According to legend, its occupant, Lord Blenkinsopp, took in a wandering minstrel one night who disappeared. Hunting dogs were sent out to search and when they found him on the banks of the Tyne, they tore him to pieces. His ghost is said still to haunt the property.

The applicant chosen to take on Bellister will need a sense of the macabre; outside is a tree where Cavaliers are said to have hanged Roundheads during the Civil War. In return, the tenants will find themselves in command of a seven-bedroom castellated property in an impressive setting, with a 10-year lease on a rent yet to be determined.

History is just one of the factors that make the prospect of living in a National Trust building so appealing; fine architecture and outstanding settings are a couple of others. When properties such as Bellister occasionally become available to rent, they usually attract hundreds of applications, many from people who have not fully considered the demands of having to open to the public a couple of days a week or the cost and effort involved in keeping gardens maintained to the trust's exacting standards.

[AJR]

I'll look out other info and post it here before the end of the week.

[AJR]

From http://www.borderrei...whistle%203.htm
The road south-westward from Haltwhistle to Featherstone passes close to Bellister Castle. However you will not be able to see the castle from the road. The castle is occupied and privately owned. A moat once surrounded the barmkin but it is now dry, and only the outline remains. The castle is actually a pele tower. It is now little more than a shell, yet in its day, it was a formidable presence. To the south was a very old tree with great spreading branches, apparently very useful for hangings. It is said that, on one occasion, seven unfortunate reivers were strung up in a row.
Bellister Castle also has a ghost, the Grey Man, grey being the in colour for ghosts.
Once upon a time a wandering minstrel called at the tower and was afforded, as was the custom, food and a night’s lodgings. However, the Lord of Bellister became suspicious of him and decided he was up to no good. The more he observed the stranger the more convinced he was that he was right. The minstrel had not failed to notice the hostile attitude of his host, and instead of retiring to the bed which had been prepared for him, he slipped outside where he felt less vulnerable. This was a mistake, and only confirmed the great lord’s fears and he promptly called to his servants to bring his hounds and they went in pursuit of the minstrel, who, realising the danger, ran for his life. But his pursuers ran faster and the dogs caught up with up by the banks of the river. When the panting lord arrived with his men they were too late to call off the hounds. The old man had been torn to pieces.
For the rest of his life the baron was haunted by visits of the minstrel pointing an accusing finger at him. Locals insist that at night they hear the baying of the hounds and the terrified shrieks of the Old Man of Bellister.

From http://www.northumbe.../vg/ghosts.html
In the days of the Border Reivers, Bellister Castle, near Haltwhistle, was the home of Lord Blenkinsopp. The Lord did not trust any strangers but one evening he agreed to provide food and shelter for a travelling minstrel in return for some tales and songs. As the evening wore on, the Lord grew increasingly suspicious and in the middle of the night he sent his steward to check on the minstrel, but his bed was empty. The Lord immediately ordered a search party with hunting dogs. It was not long until the dogs uncovered the minstrel on the banks of the Tyne and tore him to pieces. From then, the Bellister area has been regularly haunted by the ghost of a man in grey with a pallid face, cut across by a bloody gash.

From http://www.john-t-wa...llistertext.htm
Bellister is a township, and includes the small village of Park and a few scattered farms, on the south bank of the Tyne, half a mile north-east from Featherstone station on the Alston branch of the North Eastern railway and south-west from Haltwhistle. Bellister castle, 1, mile from Haltwhistle station, is a Border tower erected in the 13th century, and in the 16th century the residence of the Blenkinsopps. A later residence erected adjoining it, probably about 1700, was entirely destroyed by fire, but was in 1906 restored and enlarged by Daniel Jackson M.D. Of Netherton, and is now occupied by John McClare Clark esq. F.S.I. J.P.

From http://www.wearsideo...ysteries04.html
A long time ago a wandering minstrel called at the castle and was offered food and a bed for the night. The Lord of Bellister was suspicious of his visitor and thought he was up to no good, and the more the Lord watched the minstrel the more he convinced he became that he was right.
The minstrel well aware of the Lord's hostile attitude thought it would be better if he left the castle, so instead of going to the room which had been prepared for him the minstrel slipped outside were he felt more safe. This was to be a terrible mistake by the minstrel, as the Lord thought it confirmed what he had thought all along, that the minstrel could not be trusted.
The Lord called for his servants to bring the hounds immediately and they went in pursuit of the minstrel. The minstrel hearing the hounds realised he was in great danger and fled for his life, but the dogs and servants were faster and the minstrel was caught by the banks of the river. When the Lord and servants caught up with the hounds it was to late, the hounds had ripped the minstrel to pieces. It was said the Lord spent the rest of his life with visions of the minstrel pointing an accusing finger at him. The locals still insist that at night they hear the baying of the hounds and the terrified shrieks of the Old Man of Bellister.

From http://www.geocities...p/indexbla.html
Bellister Castle is now serving as bed and breakfast. It is currently being remodeled by its current owners, the British Government as a Public Trust dwelling.

From http://pages.unisonf.../B-Mawer_1.html
Modern Name – Bellister Castle
Old Name – Bella ceaster
Meaning – Bella’s chester

[Gordon]

That's thorough, and Dodds has nothing new to add. I would only highlight that Dodds in Bastions and Belligerants states that written applications for access are required before the National Trust will allow access, and that at the time of writing his book, Dodds stated that the building, or part of it, was occupied as Andrew has pointed out in one of his quotes.

[Duncan]

Thanks Much guys!
I've sent the person requesting the info the topic address so its up to them now.

[AJR]

Here's a better copy of the floor plan.

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[AJR]

See
http://www.durham.go...dform&PRN=N6685

[AJR]

Here's an old postcard of Bellister Castle.

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