A curious incident of a slog in the daytime has occurred at medieval castle hotel, Langley Castle, in Langley-on-Tyne near Hexham, with knights spotted scaling the walls in an attempt to breach the castle defences.
At least five knights were seen clambering up the 90-metre-high, seven-feet-thick castle walls, which have deterred attackers since 1350. That is when Langley Castle was first built by one of King Edward III’s favourite knights – Sir Thomas de Lucy.
The knights in question were clearly wise to the fact that the castle is built on boulders – another deterrent built into its architectural plans, so as to deter enemies from tunnelling underneath to gain entry. Back in the day, these were primarily the Scottish forces of David Bruce, marauding over the Anglo-Scottish border into Northumberland.
Luckily, staff at Langley Castle were able to stop the modern-day knights in their tracks and ask for their purpose in launching such a daring mission.
“It transpired,” says general manager, Mohamed Serag, “that this had nothing to do with the forthcoming St George’s Day but everything to do with the 40th anniversary celebrations of Langley Castle as a hotel and restaurant.
“The knights were boldly making an attempt to grab an invitation to our official event, set for May 6, when the owners of Langley Castle, the Baron and Baroness of Langley, Dr Stuart and Dr Mariann Madnick, will be hosting a range of activities to mark our great landmark.”
The day will see everything from historical re-enactments and Northumbrian clog dancing to a champagne and canapé reception hosted by the Baron and Baroness and guided tours of the castle. The Mayor of Hexham and the Hexham Town Crier, along with other influential guests and friends of Langley Castle will be in attendance and a number of long-serving employees at the hotel and restaurant will be presented with long-service awards.
Had the knights trying to gate-crash this event been community champions, working relentlessly to support good causes, tourism, local clubs and centres and much more, they would have had no need to go to such lengths to grab an invitation.
That is because Langley Castle has also invited 40 local ‘community knights’ to play their part in the celebrations, attending on the day and taking part in a 40-bell toll that will ring around the grounds as the celebrations commence.
“We are flattered that this daring bunch of invading knights took on the challenge to try to grab an invitation. However, the moral of the tale is probably that, if you have supported the local community around Haydon Bridge, Haltwhistle, Allendale and Hexham, and been nominated for your actions, there was a far easier way to attend,” says Mohamed Serag.
“The effort made for great viewing, however, and we appreciate the help that Northern Outdoor provided to these plucky knights.”
