Standing proudly on a basalt crag overlooking the North Sea, Bamburgh is among England's largest inhabited castles, with an estate that spans nine acres. Bamburgh Castle also ranks among Britain's oldest, as there has been a fort on the site since about the 5th century AD, when the site was probably the capital of the northern British kingdom of Bernicia. The Vikings and the Normans also saw the strategic importance of the rocky ledge, and altered the fortress to suit their needs. Many of the Norman alterations form the basis of the current structure; the oldest surviving complete building in the castle is the keep, which was built in 1164.
Bamburgh Castle played a key role in the border wars of the 13th and 14th centuries. It suffered some considerable damage during the Wars of the Roses, becoming the first castle in England to feel the effects of gunpowder. The castle was only properly restored after Lord Armstrong purchased the site for his family in the 19th century. Lord Armstrong's descendants still live in the castle today. Bamburgh Castle is now a much-loved tourist attraction, boasting a number of impressive features. Highlights include the decorative King's Hall furnished with beams from the Kingdom of Siam, and the Medieval Kitchen, which has even served as a classroom during its long history.
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