Raby Castle - Staindrop

Raby Castle

Attraction (General)
in/near Barnard Castle, Durham,
England North East

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Review added: 02/01/2010 22:21
By: durhamgirl (£67.00 earned from reviews) Earn £££'s

"Raby Castle is said to be one of the finest medieval Castle's in England. It has been home to Lord Barnard's family since 1626 and was built by the Nevill family in the 14th Century.

There is lots to see and do in the castle, the exterior architecture is stunning and includes the castle towers, turrets and embattled walls. Just like a 'proper' castle should have! A small amount of the architecture dates from the 11th Century, with the remainder dating from the 14th century.

Once inside there is the opportunity to have a good look round the castle. There are lots of rooms to see including the Entrance Hall, Chapel and The Baron's Hall. The Baron's Hall is where seven hundred knights once gathered to plot the doomed 'Rising of the North' in 1569. Other rooms worth a visit include The Octagon Room which is decorated in an authentic 1840s style, and The Small Drawing Room, Library and Ante-Library.

Another interesting room is the Kitchen. It was built in 1360 and was in use for the next six hundred years, until 1954, almost unchanged fr.om when it was first built. A passageway runs around the room within the thickness of the walls which was used as a serving route to the Barons' Hall.

The Castle itself is set within 200 acres of land which is also a deer park home to both Red Deer and the smaller Fallow Deer. There is also large gardens to and the Coach House to look round outside.

The castle is located on the A688, 1 mile north of Staindrop and 8 miles north east of Barnard Castle. It's easy to find and there is plenty of car parking.
It's open for 3 days over Easter. Then May, June and September Sun - Wed. July and August Sun - Fri. Over Bank Holiday weekends the castle is open on Saturdays too.

Admission to the Castle, Park & Gardens is £9.50 for adults, £4.00 for children, £8.50 for over 60s and students and £25.00 for a family ticket. Admission to the Park and Gardens only is £5.00 for adults, £4 for over 60s and students and £12.50 for a family ticket. Children under 12 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.

Well worth a visit!"

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