Bamburgh, The Village And Castle 1954

More about this scene

A fortified site since the 6th century, the Norman castle at Bamburgh was besieged in 1095 by William II. Unable to take the fortress from Robert de Mowbray, third Earl of Northumberland, William headed south, leaving the prosecution of the siege to others. Mowbray attempted to escape, but was captured. His wife only surrendered Bamburgh after her husband had been paraded before the walls under threat of being blinded. Bamburgh holds the distinction of being the first castle to be breached by gunfire, when forces loyal to Edward IV deployed two large cannon. However, the garrison was already on the point of surrendering, having eaten the last of their horses.