{{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox building | name = Walworth Castle | image = Walworth 001.jpg | alt = Walworth Castle | caption = <small>South−east corner of Walworth Castle</small> | pushpin_map = County Durham | pushpin_map_alt = Showing position of Walworth at south of County Durham, near Darlington | map_caption = Location within Durham | altitude = {{convert|300|ft|m}} | building_type = Manor house | architectural_style = Tudor style architecture | structural_system = Limestone rubble and Welsh slate | cost = | ren_cost = | client = Thomas Jennison | location = Walworth<br />County Durham, England | coordinates = {{coord|54.565|-1.639|display=inline}} | construction_start_date = c. 1579 | completion_date = c. 1600 | inauguration_date = | renovation_date = 1740; 1864; 1991; 2000; 2016 | demolished_date = | destruction_date = | height = | diameter = | other_dimensions = | floor_count = | floor_area = | main_contractor = | architect = Thomas Holt | references = }}
'''Walworth Castle''' is a castle of 12th-century origins, situated at Walworth, near Darlington, County Durham, England. It is a Grade I listed building. It was completed around 1600, probably by Thomas Holt for Thomas Jenison. It stands on the site of a former manor house or castle built in the 12th century by the Hansard family. The estate passed through the hands of the Ayscoughs and Aylmers besides the Hansards and Jenisons, and became a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II and then a girls' boarding school after the war. It has been a hotel since 1981.
==History==
===Hansard and Ayscough families=== The present manor house stands on the site of a previous manor house or castle which was built around 1150 by the Hansard family. There is no evidence that the building was ever used for defence. The title to the castle fell into the hands of the House of Neville after the 1349 Black Death, but was reclaimed by Robert Hansard in 1391. The castle then passed to Sir Richard Hansard in 1395, his son Richard in 1454, his grandson Richard in 1466,<ref name="BestWesternTimeline1">{{cite web|url=http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history2.php|title=Best Western: The Castle|year=2010|work=The history of Walworth Castle 1050–1508|publisher=Best Western|access-date=13 April 2010|archive-date=7 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007071808/http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history2.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sir William Hansard in 1508, Sir William's short−lived son William in 1521, and to William Jr.'s infant daughter Elizabeth Hansard in 1521. In 1539 Elizabeth married Sir Francis Ayscough, so the castle passed to the Ayscough family.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deeds: A.12501 – A.12600 {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/ancient-deeds/vol5/pp325-349 |access-date=2022-11-08 |via=British History Online}}</ref> In 1563 the castle passed to her son William Ayscough, but because there were no further heirs the castle was sold.<ref name="BestWesternTimeline2"/>
===Jenison family=== In about 1579 Thomas Jennison, Auditor General of Ireland (d.1579), purchased from the Ascough family the manor of High Walworth.<ref name=HTD>''An Historical ,Topographical and Descriptive View of the County of Durham'' McKenzie and Ross (1834) p171 Google Books</ref> The manor included a manor house or medieval castle on this site;<ref name="KeysSiteofCastle">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1565|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth Castle; site of Medieval castle. (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211314/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1565|url-status=dead}}</ref> he demolished most of it apart from the medieval south−west tower and built the present castle,<ref name=IOE/> whose fabric is still identifiable as 16th century in date. It is thought that Jennison's architect was probably Thomas Holt.<ref name="KeysListedCastle">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11084|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth castle; Listed building (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616204554/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11084|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1586 Jenison died, and his widow Elizabeth ''née'' Birch inherited the castle.<ref name="BestWesternTimeline2">{{cite web|url=http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history3.php|title=Best Western: The Castle|year=2010|work=The history of Walworth Castle 1508–1605|publisher=Best Western|access-date=13 April 2010|archive-date=7 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007071815/http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history3.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was during her ownership that King James VI of Scotland stayed here on 14 May 1603 while travelling to his coronation as king of England.<ref>John Nichols, ''The Progesses, Processions, and Magnificent Festivities, of King James the First'', vol. 1 (London, 1828), pp. 76, 82.</ref><ref name="KeysWalworth"/> It is said that the king knighted her son−in−law George Freville in return for bountiful entertainment at the castle.<ref name="BestWesternTimeline2"/> In 1605 Elizabeth Jenison died and her son William Jenison inherited the castle. It became dilapidated because he did not live there, because he was in debt and because in 1610 and 1612 he was imprisoned for being Roman Catholic.<ref name="BestWesternTimeline3"/> The Jennisons were a strongly Catholic family.<ref>''Dictionary of National Biography'' Editor Sidney Lee (2001) p293 Google Books</ref> In 1679 Francis Jennison sold the estate and emigrated to Europe,<ref name=HTD/> possibly because in 1678 Thomas Jenison was accused of involvement in the Popish Plot to assassinate Charles II, arrested by Titus Oates and thrown into Newgate Prison. In 1681 the castle was divided from the rest of the estate and awarded by Chancery to Robert Jenison. In 1687 the castle was reunited with its estate when Ralph Jenison bought the whole estate for £6,205. The castle was searched for arms in 1689 in response to suspicions of a potential rebellion against the Protestants William III and Mary II. Ralph Jenison inherited the castle at the age of 10 years in 1704. He later renovated the castle at great expense, and died in debt, so that the castle was again sold.<ref name="BestWesternTimeline3">{{cite web|url=http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history4.php|title=Best Western: The Castle|year=2010|work=The history of Walworth Castle 1605–1759|publisher=Best Western|access-date=13 April 2010|archive-date=7 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007071820/http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history4.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Stephenson, Harrison, Aylmer and Eade families=== The castle was sold for £16,000 in 1759 to wine merchant Matthew Stephenson, and then to Newcastle merchant John Harrison in 1775. His daughter Anne (1778–1857) married in 1807 Arthur Aylmer (1772–1831, the youngest son of Sir FitzGerald Aylmer, 6th Bt.), British Army officer of the 68th Regiment of Foot, later promoted to Lieutenant-General; the castle passed to the Aylmer family in 1819 at the death of John Harrison.<ref name="BestWesternTimeline4"/><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=16390|page=1094|date=24 July 1810}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=18141|page=925|date=28 May 1825}}</ref><ref>''A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland'' Vol I, John Burke (1835) p177 Google Books</ref> After General Aylmer was buried in Heighington in 1831, John Harrison Aylmer inherited the castle. He repaired the roof and replaced previous soldier statues on the towers with pillars topped with balls, to look like the statues. However, in 1868 he, his wife and eldest son were killed in the Abergele rail disaster. His sons Vivian and Edmund, aged 12 and 9 respectively, inherited the castle. Vivian became High Sheriff of Durham and a big game hunter who explored Somaliland and crossed the Horn of Africa in 1885. He died in 1931, and he and his brother were buried at St Philip's Church in Caerdeon, North Wales. The castle was then sold to General Aylmer's descendants Neville and Charles Eade. In World War II, during the Eades' ownership, the castle was used as a prisoner-of-war camp for 200 men including German and Italian officers, under the command of Major Rollin Holmes.<ref name="NorthernEcho24mar05">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2005/03/24/The+North+East+Archive/6957584.A_spark_of_gratitude/|title=The Northern Echo|date=24 March 2005|work=A spark of gratitude|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> In 1950 Durham County Council bought the castle and it became a girls' boarding school.<ref name="BestWesternTimeline4">{{cite web|url=http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history5.php|title=Best Western: The Castle|year=2010|work=The history of Walworth Castle 1759–present|publisher=Best Western|access-date=13 April 2010|archive-date=7 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007071841/http://www.walworthcastle.co.uk/history5.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="KeysEvaluation1991">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D9559|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth Castle Hotel; Archaeological Evaluation (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205009/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D9559|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Hotel ownership=== In 1981 the Council sold the castle, they renovated it and then it was opened as a hotel. It is currently part of the Best Western hotels group in the UK.
===Castle building=== [[Image:Walworth Castle Hotel. - geograph.org.uk - 150434.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Walworth Castle, south elevation]] This Tudor castle, dating from around 1600, is a manor house built of partially rendered limestone rubble, and the roof is of Welsh slate.<ref name="KeysListedCastle"/> The west tower is older, and has gunloops, narrow trefoil-headed and round-headed windows.<ref name="KeysListedCastle"/> It has a main, south-facing building of five bays and three storeys between two four-storey, round, angle towers,<ref name=IOE/> with east and west wings on the north side, making up three sides of a square originally open to the north. However a range of early 19th-century buildings on the north side of the square now encloses the courtyard.<ref name="KeysListedCastle"/> Until the early 21st century the building contained 17th-century glass, which has been removed to the Bowes Museum.<ref name="KeysWalworth">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D6900|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth (County Durham)|publisher=DCC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616204830/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D6900|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="KeysCastle">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1566|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth, Castle; late C16 mansion. (Walworth)|publisher=DCC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211412/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1566|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some flagstones of unknown date were discovered in situ in the cellar or basement of the castle in 2002.<ref name="KeysFlagstones">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D8096|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth Castle flagstones; photographic recording (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211510/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D8096|url-status=dead}}</ref> Internal renovation took place in 1740, so that the interior now has important mid−18th century features, such as Palladian plasterwork and Rococo details. In 1864 the main staircase was rebuilt and the west wing was given a new front.<ref name="KeysListedCastle"/> It is now a Grade I listed building.<ref name=IOE>[https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1121175&resourceID=5 English Heritage: Images of England, listing and architectural details]</ref>
===Walworth park=== The parkland south of Walworth Castle was originally enclosed demesne land, and as such there is still evidence of ridge and furrow fields.<ref name="KeysParkland">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D3626|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth Park; Medieval parkland (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616204650/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D3626|url-status=dead}}</ref> This field system may be associated with the lost settlement at North Farm, Walworth; however a possible enclosure has been identified in the park, close by.<ref name="KeysPossEnclosure">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D3627|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth Park; Possible enclosure (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616204720/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D3627|url-status=dead}}</ref> That means that besides the lost settlement near the castle at North Farm there could have been a second and possibly sequential lost settlement, or the same settlement was scattered or moved. At the southern edge of the park there is evidence of a U−shaped earthwork which may be associated with the possible enclosure.<ref name="KeysParkEarthworkU">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1570|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth; earthworks. (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616204807/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1570|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Grounds=== North of the castle there is a 19th-century set of patched brick and squared stone garden walls, dressed stone gate piers with pyramid-shaped tops and a greenhouse which are listed. The glazed wooden greenhouse has a taller central section with two lower wings.<ref name="KeysWallsGreenhouse">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11588|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Garden walls, gate piers and greenhouse north of w; Listed building (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211554/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11588|url-status=dead}}</ref> A medal apparently belonging to Thomas Jennison, the 16th-century builder of the castle, was found in 1937–1938 during road-widening work on Newton Lane. It was found under the north wall of the castle grounds, and it was engraved with an image of a bridge and Thomas Jennison's name.<ref name="KeysMedal">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1567|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth, Castle; medal found. (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211804/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1567|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 1870 Tudor revival castle lodge and gate is a listed building, because it imitates the medieval battlemented style to match the castle. The lodge and gate piers are both battlemented and the single-storey, L-shaped building has corner towers and rock-faced masonry with ashlar dressing.<ref name="KeysLodgeandGate">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11085|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=The lodge, linking walls and gate piers to west of; Listed building (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211832/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11085|url-status=dead}}</ref> Huts to the east of the castle have been identified as the possible site of the World War II prisoner-of-war camp.<ref name="KeysWW2camp">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D9016|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Walworth Castle; Possible WWII PoW Camp. (Walworth)|publisher=DBC|access-date=12 April 2010|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211908/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D9016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The gardens to the north of the castle, including the glasshouse, were owned separately from the castle grounds and used for market gardening by 2003.<ref name="NorthernEcho29aug03">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/08/29/The+North+East+Archive/7017729.Caravan_set_to_stay_in_face_of_objection/|title=The Northern Echo|date=29 August 2003|work=Caravan set to stay in face of objection|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> They were sold again as a separate unit in 2010.<ref name="Glasshouseforsale">{{cite web|url=http://www.georgefwhite.co.uk/property_more.asp?id=W1968016|title=George F. White|year=2010|work=Walworth Castle Gardens, Walworth|access-date=14 April 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Walworth Castle today== The building has been open in the past on National Heritage weekends.<ref name="NorthernEcho6sep00">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2000/09/06/The+North+East+Archive/7131186.Take_the_chance_for_a_rare_peek_at_some_of_our_heritage_treasures/|title=The Northern Echo|date=6 September 2000|work=Take the chance for a rare peek at some of our heritage treasures|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> The castle attracts imaginative stories of ghosts,<ref name="HauntedPlaces07">{{cite web|url=http://www.hauntedplaces.co.uk/walworthcastle.htm|title=Hauntedplaces.co.uk|last=Walker|first=C.|year=2007|work=Walworth Castle|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="KeetonStories">{{cite web|url=http://www.exorcisms.co.uk/tvradioexorcisms2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614154138/http://exorcisms.co.uk/tvradioexorcisms2.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=14 June 2006|title=Exorcisms.co.uk|last=Keeton|first=Ralph|date=2004–2009|work=A 'Castle' Exorcism on Film for Sony Pictures USA. |access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> and the hotel business has taken advantage of this in the past at Halloween.<ref name="NorthernEcho31oct01">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/10/31/The+North+East+Archive/7094254.Now_be_afraid__be_very_afraid/|title=The Northern Echo|date=31 October 2001|work=Now be afraid, be very afraid|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="NorthernEcho27oct01">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/10/27/The+North+East+Archive/7094584.Castle_offers_visitors__a_very_spooky_supper/|title=The Northern Echo|date=27 October 2001|work=Castle offers visitors a very spooky supper|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> The castle restaurant used to have variable reviews,<ref name="NorthernEcho6jun01">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/06/06/The+North+East+Archive/7107766.The_peasants_were_not_impressed/|title=The Northern Echo|date=6 June 2001|work=The peasants were not impressed|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="NorthernEcho27jun06">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/leisure/808937.Hassle_Castle_under_attack/|title=The Northern Echo|date=27 June 2006|work=Hassle Castle under attack|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="NorthernEcho7jul06">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/yoursay/letters/822910.July_7__2006/|title=The Niorthern Echo|date=7 July 2006|work=Letters: July 7, 2006|access-date=14 April 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> however the restaurant earned a three−star classification from the RAC and AA in 2002.<ref name="NorthernEcho3apr02">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/04/03/The+North+East+Archive/7079023.Three_star_accolade_for_hotel_and_restaurant/|title=The Northern Echo|date=3 April 2002|work=Three-star accolade for hotel and restaurant|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> There have been problems with reduction of public transport access to the castle.<ref name="NorthernEcho19jul03">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/07/19/The+North+East+Archive/7023127.Bus_changes_posing_threat_to_hotel_jobs/|title=The Northern Echo|date=19 July 2003|work=Bus changes posing threat to hotel jobs|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> In 2001 Walworth Castle Hotel became the 100th member to join Darlington and District Business Club.<ref name="NorthernEcho2aug01">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/08/02/The+North+East+Archive/7102676.Club_celebrates_as_membership_hits_100/|title=The Northern Echo|date=2 August 2001|work=Club celebrates as membership hits 100|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2002, there was a children's fancy dress party at the castle in aid of charity.<ref name="NorthernEcho31may02">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/05/31/The+North+East+Archive/7072240.Ready_to_celebrate_the_golden_jubilee/|title=The Northern Echo|date=31 May 2002|work=Ready to celebrate the golden jubilee|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> Further charity fundraising events have been held at the castle including a car boot sale in 2002,<ref name="NorthernEcho30may02">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/05/30/The+North+East+Archive/7072370.News_in_brief__Landlords_have_advice_to_hand/|title=The Northern Echo|date=30 May 2002|work=News in brief: Landlords have advice to hand|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> and a Butterwick Children's Hospice event in 2003, which included staged Viking marauders.<ref name="NorthernEchocharity2">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/05/16/The+North+East+Archive/7030971.Castle_to_hold_displays/|title=The Northern Echo|date=16 May 2003|work=Castle to hold displays|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="NorthernEchoCharityevent03">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/05/27/The+North+East+Archive/7029478.Castle_takes_visitors_back_to_the_past/|title=The Northern Echo|date=27 May 2003|work=Castle takes visitors back to the past|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> In 2007 the castle was lit up with pink light on the evening of Valentine's Day.<ref name="NorthernEcho15feb07">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1194174.Castle_thinks_pink_to_get_in_the_mood_for_love/|title=The Northern Echo|date=15 February 2007|work=Castle thinks pink to get in the mood for love|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> In 2008 the castle was on the route of the Quaker Triathlon charity event, organised by the local Rotary Club.<ref name="NorthernEcho16may08">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2275589.Triathlon_group_aims_to_raise___4_000_at_event/|title=The Northern Echo|date=16 May 2008|work=Triathlon group aims to raise £4,000 at event|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> In 2009 Darlington Education Village, previously Haughton School, held its formal ball at the castle.<ref name="NorthernEcho8jul09">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/4482237.Education_Village_pupils_have_a_ball/|title=The Northern Echo|date=8 July 2009|work=Education Village pupils have a ball|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> The building is used as a polling station during elections.<ref name="NorthernEcho8jun01">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/06/08/The+North+East+Archive/7107625.All_quiet_in_hotel_that_had_to_cancel_offer/|title=The Northern Echo|date=8 June 2001|work=All quiet in hotel that had to cancel offer|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref>
==See also== *Castles in Great Britain and Ireland *List of castles in England
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Walworth Castle}} * [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=423500&Y=518500&A=Y&Z=120 Map of Walworth] * [http://www.francisfrith.com/walworth/maps/ Old map of Walworth: 1896–1913] * [http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11084 Full Grade I listing details for Walworth Castle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616204554/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11084 |date=16 June 2011 }}
{{CastlesCDT&W}}
{{Coord|54.557630|-1.648966|source:geograph.co.uk_region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Country houses in County Durham Category:Grade I listed buildings in County Durham Category:Castles in County Durham Category:History of County Durham Category:Buildings and structures in the Borough of Darlington Category:Hotels in County Durham