Above: The Chapel in 1778
The Castle continued...
The castle was built in stone during the reign of Henry II, between 1168 and 1178, at a cost of £1,144. This gave the castle the keep and the curtain wall, with a gatehouse (Bailey Gate) near the south-west corner of the keep. Other northern castles rebuilt at this time were Norham, Bamburgh and Prudhoe.
The castle was added to in the 13th century, particularly during the reign of King John (1207-1216) when an aisled hall was built in the bailey, and a barbican – now known as the Black Gate – was added to the north gate in the reign of Henry III between 1247 and 1250.
After the town wall was completed, about the mid 14th century, the castle was isolated within the new defences and became militarily redundant. From that time on few repairs are recorded, and by 1589 it was described as old and ruinous.