Name: Hylton Castle
Rating: 5.0

Hylton Castle

Craigavon Road, Sunderland, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Hylton Castle, this distinctive and highly decorative gatehouse-tower of a castle was built by the wealthy Sir William Hylton shortly before 1400. Originally containing four floors of self-contained family accommodation, its entrance front displays royal and family heraldry, including Richard II's white hart badge.

Hylton Castle was built by Sir William Hylton as his principal residence in about 1400. The rich Hylton family had estates in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland and by the 13th century had assumed the title of a barony within the Bishopric of Durham.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Hylton Castle: Hylton Castle was built by Sir William Hylton as his principal residence in about 1400. The rich Hylton family had estates in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland and by the 13th century had assumed the title of a barony within the Bishopric of Durham.
Status Symbol
Hylton Castle was intended to reflect the family’s status. Whether there were earlier buildings here is not known but the impressive gatehouse tower, the only part of the castle still standing, was almost certainly intended to be the dominant element of the new building. Other buildings were situated beyond the tower to the east, possibly arranged around a courtyard.
The Hyltons maintained their rank and wealth until the Civil War. Despite a reduction in their means, the family remained prosperous enough to refurbish the interior and add wings to the north and south side of the gatehouse in the first half of the 18th century.
The last Hylton died in 1746 and shortly afterwards the estate was sold. A century later it was bought by a local man, William Briggs, who demolished the 18th century wings, added larger windows and rebuilt the interior. The appearance of the 18th century house is, however, known from a number of antiquarian illustrations. Further deterioration in the 20th century led to only the exterior walls being saved.
Description: Gatehouse Tower: The gatehouse tower, a substantial rectangular building, originally with four storeys, provided self-contained living accommodation for the Hylton family.
The ground floor included a central gate-passage, which was flanked by vaulted chambers. Those on the north side were used as storerooms, while those on the south side functioned as the guardroom and as a private chamber.
On the next floor was the great hall, rising to roof level, with a kitchen, pantry and buttery at one end and a chamber at the other.
Similar withdrawing chambers existed on the second floor; these were reached from the hall via a stair at the northern end of the projecting central east turret.
The third private chamber on the second floor was over the kitchens and was reached via the main stair at the southern end of the central east turret. A further two private chambers existed in the central east tower, accessed via the main stair.

Facilities

Parking: Car parking is available at the site.
Food & Drinks: There is a tearoom on site managed by Hylton Castle Trust. The tearoom is open for takeaways and drop-in visits on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 11am-2pm.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open for bookable guided tours. Please see below for booking information.

Address: Craigavon Road, Sunderland, UK

Post Code: SR5 3PA

Council: Sunderland

County: Tyne and Wear

Road Access: 3 3⁄4 miles west of Sunderland.
Bus Access: Stagecoach services 3, 13; Go North East services 26 & 56.
Train Access: Seaburn Metro (2 1⁄2 miles) then bus 99; Pallion Metro then bus 29, 29A, 39 or 39A.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: Car parking is available at the site.