The So-Bad-It’s-Good Experience

Well, we ‘did’ the Chillingham Cattle. So now, maybe some culture, some history at the nearby Chillingham Castle, parts of which date from the 12th century?

Perhaps we should have guessed. We drove through the gates, then bumped along the drive, deeply pitted with pot holes. The parking area was filled with random notices relating to a golf course that was nowhere in evidence. We found the entrance, where a slightly surly individual examined our pre-booked tickets and gestured us through a door. ‘Ramshackle’, rather than ‘weathered’ was the term that occurred to us as we passed through the courtyard. Still the cafe offered home made soup and cakes, so that was alright.

But our visit! An ill-lit room offered instruments of torture, in no way explained or contextualised, but which included a broken down skeleton in a broken down wheelchair. Progressing further, we found halls scattered with elderly croquet mallets, rooms featuring peeling table tennis bats, torn and yellowed newspaper cuttings roughly pinned to a mantelpiece – one drawing pin having fallen out. A box of magazines from a bygone age tossed into a Fyffes banana box. Windows dressed with rotting and ripped curtains. Somewhere in among all this, it was just about possible to pick out a family story, and witness at first hand a high-born family descending into genteel poverty.

Actually, the formal gardens weren’t too bad. Here’s a view from the roof.

But perhaps we’re miserable old curmudgeons, unable to recognise a National Treasure when we see one. Here are some reviews from Trip Advisor. There are those who loved their visit. Is it now on your ‘must visit’ list?

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

53 thoughts on “The So-Bad-It’s-Good Experience”

  3. Margaret, contrary to Sheree I do read Tripadvisor opinions, and you are at least partially to blame for spending your money on this castle. I only quickly checked the link – when I see 44 terrible, 20 poor, and 27 average ratings, I‘d make sure to read them all and thus you could have avoided the deception. This is terrible and as you show in your photos, quite a number of deceived visitors ment. the son‘s uniforms and other nonsense with no connection whatsoever to the castle. Imagine, spending your wedding there…..

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  7. I remember visiting Chillingham Castle about 25-30 years ago and finding it interesting but quirky and not up to the same professional standards you usually find in castles and stately homes. It sounds as though it’s declined even more since then – what a shame! I don’t think I’ll be going again.

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  12. Well, it makes a good story at least 🙂 I never trust TA reviews since a Virtual Tourist friend (a professional tour guide) showed me websites where people were being offered money to write reviews there! I don’t remember it being so bad when I visited but that was probably 45 years ago!!

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  19. It certainly seems a memorable experience though whether for the right reasons is questionable. I had a quick look at the reviews. It appears to be a marmite place – love it or hate it. I’m still pondering the review which I think gave an overall positive impression. Apart from the fact that their room was full of mould. I am left now with three words: atmospheric, quirky and mouldy. Don’t think I’ll be staying there any time soon.

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  21. I think you create the best you can if this experience! Could almost go to see this desperate attempt to create some money as you say ’the descent of the high born into genteel poverty’. Quite bizarre displays!

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