The building of Callaly Castle

The present Callaly Castle, near Whittingham in Northumberland, was built in 1727, but the remains of a medieval building can still be seen on top of Callaly Castle Hill nearby. A legend, associated with the original plan to build a castle on this site in the twelfth century, illustrates a crafty deception which succeeded because of the superstitions and beliefs of the time.

It seems that many arguments took place between the Lord and Lady of Callaly over the building plans. The Lord wanted his new castle on the hill, while his wife preferred a more sheltered site in the valley below. Finally, ignoring her objections, the Lord ordered his builders to go ahead with their work on the hill site.

However, each day the men erected the walls of the new castle, but returned the following morning to find their work destroyed, and the walls pulled down. Because of their fear of the unknown, they naturally assumed that evil powers were at work.

Bravely, the master builder decided to keep an allnight vigil at the site, and settled down in an old shepherd's hut to see what spirits the darkness would bring. Several hours passed uneventfully, until finally, when all was quiet, a strange creature, resembling a boar, appeared. Standing on its hind legs, it began to tear down the castle walls. When all the newly?laid stones were lying at its feet and the destruction was complete, it cried in a loud voice:

"CaIlaly Castle built on the height,
Up in day and down at night
Builded down in the Shepherd's Shaw
It shall stand for aye and never fa'."

The following day, the Lord was told of these strange occurances, but, refusing to believe the tale, he vowed to keep watch himself that very night.

Again, as darkness and silence enveloped the quiet countryside, the boar appeared and tore down that day's building stones, and recited the strange verse. Having seen this terrifying creature for himself, the Lord immediately told his wife that he had changed his mind and the castle would now be built on the lower sheltered ground.

She was delighted, her plan had worked! The 'boar' was, in fact, one of her servants dressed in an animal's skin, and playing on the superstitions of the time, she was successful in gaining her wish.

Another version of the story does not mention the boar but states that mysteriously:

"Each particular stone, one by one, rose gradually upon its end, toppled over, and fell noiselessly to the earth. No visible agency was discernible..."

A dismembered voice was still heard, however, emanating from the ruinous heap, saying the above verse.