Lumley Castle, located near Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne, is a well-preserved castle that is open to the public and available for accommodation. It features a resident ghost and has a rich history, having been built by Sir Ralph Lumley in 1388 and later confiscated by the Crown before being returned to the Lumley family. The castle is currently owned by the Earl of Scarborough and has been converted into a high-class hotel with 73 luxurious bedrooms, a restaurant, and event spaces for conferences and weddings.
Lumley Castle is one of the best preserved castles in Northern England. Like many British castles, it is open to the public and available to people interested in visiting castles or better still, staying in castles to partake in the historic atmosphere. In addition to its historical value, Lumley Castle, in a manner befitting these types of castles, features a resident ghost; he is apparently haunted by his ex-lover Lady Lily Lumley, who, according to reports from her, has, on several occasions, had players riled up by the Australian and West Indian cricket teams.
Located near Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne, Lumley Castle was built between 1388 and 1392 by Sir Ralph Lumley. It was originally a manor house, but Sir Ralph Lumley, a decorated soldier, obtained permission from the Bishop of Durham to turn it into a castle. A few years after its completion, Sir Ralph Lumley was arrested for conspiring against the monarch King Henry IV and trying to help put Richard II on the English throne. Sir Ralph Lumley and his son Thomas were executed for treason in 1400 at Cirencester. The lady of the castle, the aforementioned Lady Lily Lumley, was murdered and thrown down a well by Catholic priests for refusing to convert to that religion in 1441.
After the execution of Sir Ralph Lumley and his son, Lumley Castle and its adjoining lands were confiscated by the Crown and given to the Earl of Somerset. He died childless in 1421, and the castle and lands were later returned to Sir Ralph Lumley’s nephew, Thomas Lumley. The latter regained royal favor and was made a peer and constable of Scarborough Castle. Lumley’s descendants have held the property ever since, and the castle is currently owned by the Earl of Scarborough, a peerage created for a Lumley in 1690.
In the 1970s, Lumley Castle was leased to the No Ordinary Hotels group and converted into a high class hotel. People interested in the historical experience of staying in a castle can contact the hotel on its website for accommodation details. The castle offers 73 luxurious bedrooms and the elegant Black Knight restaurant is open throughout the week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with afternoon tea served in the Library Bar. The castle can also be booked as a conference venue and for weddings and bridal receptions. The castle also hosts mystery dinners, Elizabethan banquets and a variety of Christmas and New Year events.
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