
Bowes Castle
Bowes lies about 13 miles east along the A66 from The Inn at Brough and , like Brough, stands on the old Stainway, used from prehistoric times as one of the few passable East to West routes across the Pennines. As a consequence many of the hamlets along its path were fortified by the original inhabitants and then by the Romans, the Normans and later the English. The impressive ruins of Henry II's 12th century keep stand on the site of the Roman fort of Lavatris which guarded the approach to the strategic pass and was occupied from the 1st to the late 4th century.
Bowes Castle was built between 1171 and 1187. By the 17th century it had become redundant. It was owned by the Ministry of Works until it was handed over to English Heritage. The simple sign below from before the nanny state took over displays a nice brevity.
Address
English Heritage
Bowes Castle
Bowes
DL12