Bywell, whilst having very little remaining buildings, is in fact steeped with history. Bywell was once an important hub and a major town, which fell into decline following the arrival of the railway in nearby Stocksfield.
Today, Bywell Castle (now a private residence), Bywell Hall, two churches and a handful of houses remains. The vast majority of these remain part of the wider Allendale Estate, with the Castle, Hall, and churches being the focus of this article.
Bywell Castle
Now attached to a private residence, Bywell Castle remains standing, and is grade 1 listed. Despite its appearance, the castle is not a ruin, and was in fact never completed.
Bywell Hall
Still a private residence, Bywell Hall is grade 2* listed manor house located on the western end of Bywell.
Opportunities to visit Bywell Hall are rare. Guided tours were held, but the last of these ran back in 2019. The hall has formed the backdrop for events such as the Bella Auto car show.
Churches
Despite its size, Bywell still has two churches, St Andrews and St Peters. I have yet to establish the true reason for there being two churches, but multiple theories do exist.
St Andrews is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. This is the older of the two churches, and it is open to the public.