Northumberland: castles and the borderlands of power

From The English Heritage Podcast by English Heritage

April 16, 2026 · 50 min · Season 2 · Episode 52

About this episode

The episode explores the evolution of the Anglo-Scottish border and the role of Northumberland in shaping historical identities and power dynamics following the Norman Conquest.

A stone knight, an emerging frontier and a story of shifting identity: this time, Amy and her guests explore how the Anglo-Scottish border began to evolve in the centuries following the Norman Conquest, right through to a critical 1237 treaty. English Heritage’s Will Wyeth and Professor Richard Oram from the University of Stirling explain how the people and landscape of Northumberland were critical in shaping this story of competing loyalties, powerful figures and soap-opera style characters, from knights and nobles to bishops and kings. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠ Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.* Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals. Learn more…

People in this episode

Host: Amy

Guests: Will Wyeth, Professor Richard Oram

Topics covered

Anglo-Scottish border
Norman Conquest
Northumberland
historical identity
treaty of 1237
castles
power dynamics

Keywords

Northumberland
Anglo-Scottish border
Norman Conquest
historical identity
castles
treaty of 1237
power dynamics
English Heritage

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Stirling, English Heritage

Places: Northumberland

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The Neolithic Hall: Reconstructing History at Stonehenge · June 4, 2026 · 51 min
Berwick-on-Tweed: life on the border in the 16th century · May 28, 2026 · 40 min
Reinterpreting Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo · May 21, 2026 · 50 min
Northumberland and the Border Reivers · May 14, 2026 · 51 min
A history of natural history · May 7, 2026 · 39 min

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