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Bamburgh’s appearance was very different in the past.

In the 16th century the church had a roof only half-covered in lead, glass was missing, thatch defiled and rubbish piled behind the porch.

For centuries owned by the Crown, the castle stood in ruins since the siege of 1464 when cannonballs had bounced off the Keep. The Grove did not exist, the area then being a dangerous, open quarry.

The late 1700s saw the crypt of the church sealed up as a vault of the Forster family. It had two apartments, one containing five coffins when it was entered in 1837. They contained the remains of Mr Bacon-Forster d.1765, Fernando Forster d.1701, allegedly murdered, John or William Forster, General Tom Forster d.1738, and Dorothy Forster d.1739. A plan shows only three coffins, however.

John Forster is the first known member of this family, which had owned land in the area since the 1200s. He was knighted in 1548 for bravery in wars against Scotland, held several high offices, including Captain of Bamburgh Castle, and purchased the Mansion House, which we know as Bamburgh Hall. Later he acquired property in Spindlestone and Alnwick, including Hulne Abbey, which became his main residence.

Legend states that he lived to be over 100 and escaped death when 30 raiders attacked the castle. His wife swiftly bolted his chamber door and they abandoned the chase.

His funeral in 1602 was an extravagant affair, with delicacies of birds from the Farne Islands for mourners. The cost was £454 11 7d. He was buried in the chancel.

His illegitimate son Nicholas earned the gratitude of James VI/I when he received him at Berwick in 1603. James was not impressed with the old wooden bridge over the Tweed and was responsible for the stone bridge we use today.

Nicholas’ eldest son Claudius became, like his father and grandfather, High Sheriff, and was granted the castle by James I, with the huge expense of repairs.