Aydon Castle overlooks the valley of the Cor Burn in Aydon, near Corbridge. It is a fine example
of an English 13th Century manor house. The castle was originally a wooden baronial hall built
by Hugh de Reymes. His son Robert rebuilt the hall in stone. The original plan of Aydon Castle
came from Halton Castle which is close by. When trouble flared on the Borders in 1305 the house
was fortified to protect the de Reymes family. In 1315, it was ransacked by the Scots and
two years later was seized by English rebels. The original mediaeval toilets (or garderobes)
still exist. In the 17th century, the Canaby and Collinson families bought the castle and
converted it into a farmhouse, which it remained until 1966.
The castle was also used for the
TV series 'Ivanhoe' and the film 'Elizabeth'.
