Northumbrian Gunner: Holy Island Castle

Holy Island Castle IJ

The fortification of the Island of Lindisfarne was first ordered in 1542 by Henry VIII to protect the harbour from attack by the Scots.

Holy Island Harbour

The Lindisfarne Priory had been dissolved in 1537 and was used as a military store. In 1549 the first castle was built on the prominent rock at the entrance to the islands harbour. It was strengthened between 1570 and 1571. Stone from the abandoned Priory was used for the castle.

Holy Island Castle

The first and only time the guns of the Castle fired in anger was during the English Civil War. In 1643 the Royalist Castle was besieged by Parliamentarians.

By the time of the War of Spanish Succession 1701 to 1715 the Castle was armed with 20 guns, This was reduced to 12 following the end of the war. The guns were removed in 1819.

Holy Island Castle 1840

A Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom was set up in in 1859 to enquire into the ability of the United Kingdom to defend itself against an attempted invasion by a foreign power. Thier report led to a strengthening of coastal defences around the United Kingdom.

Guns returned to Holy Island Castle when 3 x 64 pounders Rifle Muzzle Loaders were installed. They were located on an lower battery of two gun emplacements, and an upper battery of one gun emplacement. The guns were removed in 1893.

Holy Island Castle Plan

64 pounder Rifle Muzzle Loader Gun

Holy Island Castle Upper Battery

Holy Island Castle Upper Battery

The Castle became a coastguard lookout till it was sold to Edward Hudson, a publishing magnate and the owner of Country Life magazine in 1901. Hudson had it refurbished by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens who would later go on to design the Cenotaph in London and CWGC Cemeteries.