Lindisfarne - Castle

Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a tidal island off the coast. The island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD. It was an important centre of Celtic Christianity under Saints Aidan, Cuthbert, Eadfrith, and Eadberht of Lindisfarne.

After Henry VIII had the Abbey at Lindisfarne dissolved in 1541 he ordered the Earl of Rutland to fortify the island. Stones from the abbey were used to build the castle. Elizabeth I had the fortifications strengthened in 1570/71 and had gun platforms built for new developments in artillery technology. When James I came to power in England, he combined the Scottish and English thrones, and the need for the castle declined.