Chillingham castle: A splendid recovery - Telegraph

Chillingham castle: A splendid recovery - Telegraph

Northumberland holds many of England’s finest castles, but the most eccentric may be Chillingham, packed to the brim with curiosities. For 30 years it has been home to Sir Humphry Wakefield and his wife, Katharine. But before this, since its 13th-century construction Chillingham had been in the hands of the Grey family and their descendants, the earls of Tankerville.

It is thought that escalating running costs led to the castle being abandoned in 1932. Its contents sold, the building fell into decay: roofs caved in, the gardens became overgrown and silt filled out the lakes. Not put off by the half-century of neglect, Sir Humphry bought the castle and lands from the Tankervilles. Both parties were delighted that Katharine, the daughter of the former Lady Mary Grey from nearby Howick Hall, was a descendant of the family that established Chillingham.