Blacksmith forges memorial to Battle of Flodden

Sep 3 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

BLACKSMITH Stephen Mather has forged a memorial to one of the North East’s bloodiest battles.

Steel gates which incorporate images from the Battle of Flodden in 1513 will be installed at the site where the English army camped before and after their victory over the Scots.

The site is now part of Barmoor Castle Country Park in north Northumberland, eight miles south of Berwick.

The park, which has 104 caravan pitches, is run by Hedley and Ann Lamb and their son Jamie.

Its Flodden links are only part of the site’s rich history. It was the medieval home of the Muschamp family and in 1341 a licence to crenellate (to fortify a building) was granted to Thomas de Muschamp, In 1415 a tower was recorded and in 1801 work began on the present castle-style mansion.

The Lambs, who previously lived in Seahouses and ran milk and agricultural contracting businesses, bought the derelict mansion and 10 acres and moved on to the site in 1986 with the aim of opening a park.

Over the years they have acquired another 200 acres and have now restored the West Drive to Barmoor Castle, which is where the gates will be erected.

“Because this is where the English army camped we felt it was very important to design the gates to commemorate the Battle of Flodden,” said Ann. Hedley Lamb worked with blacksmith Stephen Mather on the designs for the 6ft high, 21ft wide gates, which have taken six months to create.