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Langley Castle Hotel
Built in 1350, during the reign of Edward III, the castle has retained
its architectural integrity and is regarded as one of the few medieval
fortified Castle Hotels in England.
Over the past 600 years, the Castle has been owned, together with its
estate, by Lords and Ladies whose names were frequently associated with
the turbulent history of the Kingdom. During the 17th century the Langley
estates became the property of the Earls of Derwentwater; Viscounts Langley.
James , the third Earl and Charles his brother, took part in the Jacobite
risings of 1715. They were subsequently executed at the Tower of London.
A cross stands by the road from the Castle to Haydon Bridge commemorating
their loyalty to the King of Scotland (their Lawful Sovereign), which
reads:
In memory of James and Charles
Viscounts Langley
Beheaded on Tower Hill
24th Feb 1716 and 8th Dec 1746
For Loyalty to
their Lawful Sovereign
The property was confiscated by the Crown and its administration passed
to the Royal Naval Hospital at Greenwich in London. Signs of the Admiralty's
influence can still be seen in the area. For example the anchor motif
on the front of a house at Langley and the naming of a pub in Haydon
Bridge as The Anchor.
In 1882 a local historian, Cadwallader Bates, purchased the property.
The restoration of the Castle to its original 14th Century structure
became a life's work not only for Cadwallader, but also for his wife
Josephine, who continued his work after Cadwalladers death in 1902. Josephine
rebuilt the original chapel on the castle roof in memory of her husband
and worked tirelessly until her own death in 1933. She was buried alongside
her husband in the castle grounds.
Langley Castle's history as an hotel and restaurant begins a new chapter
in its fascinating history.
South West Garderobe Tower
This tower is a most interesting facet of the Castle, as it was totally
dedicated to Garderobes (medieval latrines) on an almost monumental scale.
This lavish provision was a rare facility in castles and houses of the
period. There are twelve Garderobes, four on each floor, each having
a pointed arch to the recess, in which are stone corbels to carry the
seats. The shafts discharged into a pit below, through which a stream
of water could be diverted to flush it clean.
The number of Garderobes suggests that Langley Castle was intended from
its inception to be well garrisoned, being more than just a family residence.
These Garderobes are perhaps the finest remaining examples of this type
and style of architecture in Europe.
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