New Medieval Books: Castles and Strongholds of Northumberland - Medievalists.net

"Northumberland has more castles, fortalices, towers, peles, bastles and barmkins than any other county in the British Isles. Castles of all periods were the private residences and fortresses of kings and noblemen. The fact that they were private residences was the principal difference between them and their predecessors, the Anglo-Saxon burghs, which were fortified towns."

"The towers, peles, bastles and barmkins were also private residences fortified by small, not so powerful lords, or by rich farmers and landowners as a means of defending themselves from raiding parties and securing their cattle in times of such raids."

Northumberland possesses the highest concentration of castles and fortified structures in the British Isles, including castles, towers, peles, bastles, and barmkins. These structures functioned as private residences and fortresses for kings, noblemen, and wealthy landowners, distinguishing them from earlier Anglo-Saxon burghs and later government-built forts. Smaller fortifications like towers, peles, bastles, and barmkins were constructed by lesser lords, rich farmers, and landowners to defend against raiding parties and protect livestock. This expanded guide, originally published in 1967, now contains over 500 entries documenting Northumberland's fortified historic buildings, serving local historians, medieval castle researchers, and visitors exploring the region's architectural heritage.

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