It was destroyed by the Danes in 993; but about the time of the Conquest was in good repair.  In 1095, it was in the possession of Robert Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, when it was besieged, and, after much difficulty, taken by William II.  The castle lost the greatest part of its beauty in a siege after the battle of Hexham.  Camden tells us “from that time it has suffered by time and winds, which throw up incredible quantities of sand from the sea upon its walls, through the windows which are open.”  Sir John Forster was governor of it in Elizabeth’s reign; and his grandson John obtained a grant of it and the manor from James the First.  His descendant, Thomas, forfeited it in 1715; but his maternal uncle, Nathaniel, Lord Crewe, bishop of Durham, purchased his estates, and bequeathed them to charitable purposes in 1720.  The sunken rocks and shifting sands of this coast had long been a terror to the mariners, but under his lordship’s will, Dr. Sharp, then archdeacon of Durham, fitted up the keep of the Castle, for the reception of suffering seamen, and of property which might be rescued from the fury of the ocean.  Regulations were also adopted, both to prevent accidents on the coast, and to alleviate misfortunes when they had occurred.  A nine pounder, placed at the bottom of the great tower, gives signals to ships in distress, and in case of a wreck, announces the same to the Custom House officers and their servants, who hasten to prevent the wreck being plundered.  In addition to this, during a storm, horsemen patrol the coast, and rewards are paid for the earliest intelligence of vessels in distress.  A flag is always hoisted when any ship is seen in distress on the Fern Islands or Staples; or a rocket thrown up at night, which gives notice to the Holy Island fishermen, who can put off to the spot when no boat from the main can get over the breakers.  Life-boats have likewise been added to the establishment.  The vast increase of the residuary rents of the Castle estates also enables the trustees to support within its walls two free-schools, a library, infirmary, thirty beds for shipwrecked sailors, and a granary, whence poor persons are supplied with provisions at the first price.[5] Altogether, the establishment of Bamborough merits the epithet of “princely,” which it has received from the historians of the county.  Its philanthropic endowment has not been suffered to decay with the romance of olden time, but the charitable intentions of the testator are fulfilled, so as to maintain a lasting record of his active benevolence.  Such magnificence may be said to eclipse all the glitter and gleam of chivalry, and make them appear but as idle dreams.

[5] See Mirror, vol. xiii. p 415.—­One of the best features of the establishment is the gratuitous circulation of the library for twenty miles round; the books being lent to any householder of good report residing within twenty miles of the castle.

A boundless view of the ocean presents itself from the towers of Bamborough Castle, studded with small islands, having the Coquet Island on the south, and the Holy Island on the north.