Dally Castle

Dally Castle was probably built in 1237. On Speed's map of 1611 it is called Dala, and earlier in his Britannia, Camden called it Delaley. Its history is obscure: originally it was an oblong building of two storeys, with two turrets later added to the north corners and a south wing constructed. The stones were used to build Dally Mill and only the foundations can be traced. DaIly Castle also has its tragic legend: the owner's sister fell in love with her brother's enemy, Gilbert of Tarset. During one of their meetings, the couple were surprised by her brother, who pursued Gilbert to the summit of Hareshaw Common. A fight took place and Gilbert was slain. The spot where he felI is known…

The upper and lower halves of the valley watered by the Chirdon are separated by a natural barrier in the shape of a high steep-sided ridge or "kaim" pierced at east end by the stream. The eastern part this ridge has been isolated by cutting a gap through it, as in the similar case of Wark on Tweed. A smaller notch cuts off the extreme eastern point of the ridge, and Dally castle stands along the narrow top of the ridge with its west end overlooking the larger ditch. There are also traces of masonry on the low mound east of the eastern ditch. The castle proper was in two portions, the first a building about 30 by east of the main building and not on the same orientation. It is not now…