Haughton Castle

Haughton Castle stands at Haughton in northern England. It originated in the 13th century as an oblong tower-house built for domestic defence. In the 14th century the house was enlarged and given additional fortifications; at that time the estate belonged to Gerald Widdrington, and the Widdringtons retained ownership into the early 1300s while members of the Swinburn family were resident.

By the 16th century the building had fallen into decay and suffered raids by Border reivers; a 1541 survey recorded that the roof and floors were “decayed and gone”. Around 1640 the property passed to the Smith family, and a 1715 survey again described the building as ruinous, showing it remained largely derelict through the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Between 1816 and 1845 the Smiths carried out major rebuilding that remodelled the ruin into a substantial country house, with later phases overseen by the architect John Dobson. The Crawshaw family took the estate in 1862, and in 1876 Anthony Salvin added a west wing. The Cruddas family are recorded as owners in the late 19th century. During the Second World War part of the house served as a hospital. The property is now privately owned by the Braithwaite family and is a Grade I listed building.