an inconsiderable village in Northumberland, on the sea coast, 14 miles north of Alnwick, was once a royal borough, and sent two members to parliament: it even gave name to a large tract extending southward, which was called Bamboroughshire. It had also three religious foundations; a house of friars preachers founded by Henry III., a cell of canons regular of St Austin, and an hospital. Its very ancient castle stands on an almost perpendicular rock close to the sea, and accessible only on the south-east side, on a spot where, according to the monkish historians, there stood the castle or palace of the kings of Northumberland; built, as it is said, by King Ida, who began his reign about the year 559. Part of the present ruins are by some supposed to be the remains of King Ida's work. The ancient name of this place was, it is said, Bebbenborough; which name Camden, from the authority of Bede, imagines borrowed from Bebba, Ida's queen: but the author of the additions to that writer is of a contrary opinion, as in the Saxon copy it is called Cycnichenberg, or the "royal mansion." According to Florilegus, King Ida at first fenced it only with a wooden enclosure, but afterwards surrounded it with a wall. It is thus described by Roger Hoveden, who wrote in the year 1192: "Bebba is a very strong city, but not exceeding large; containing not more than two or three acres of ground. It has but one hollow entrance into it, which is admirably raised by steps. On the top of a hill stands a fair church; and in the western point is a well curiously adorned, and of sweet clean water." This castle was besieged anno 642 by Penda, the Pagan king of the Mercians, who, as the story goes, attempted to burn it: for which purpose he laid vast quantities of wood under the walls, and set fire to it as soon as the wind was favourable; but no sooner was it kindled, than by the prayers of St Adian, the wind changed and carried the flames into his camp, so that he was obliged to raise the siege. In 710, King Osred, on the death of Alfred his father, took shelter in this castle with Brithric his tutor or guardian; one Edulph having seized the crown, by whom, with his partizans, they were unsuccessfully besieged. Brithric made so gallant a defence, that the siege was turned into a blockade, which gave the royal subjects time to arm in defence of their young king. On their marching hither to his relief, Edulph fled; but was followed, taken, and put to death by Brithric, who thereby securely seated Osred on the throne, when this castle became his palace. In the reign of Egbert, Kenulph bishop of Lindisfarne was confined here 30 years, from 750 to 780. In 933, it was plundered and totally ruined by the Danes; but being of great importance in defending the northern parts against the continual incursions of the Scots, it was soon after repaired, and made a place of considerable strength. It is said to have been in good repair at the time of the Conquest, when it was probably put into the custody of some trusty Norman, and had in all likelihood some additions made to its works; and this is the more probable, as the present area, contained within its walls, measures upwards of 80 acres, instead of three, as when described by Hoveden. About the year 1095 it was in possession of Robert de Mowbray earl of Northumberland, who engaging in some treasonable practices against William Rufus, that king laid siege to it and obliged it to surrender. In the next reign it was entrusted by Henry I. to Eustace Fitz-John, who was dispossessed of it and his other employments by King Stephen, that king being jealous of his attachment to Maud, daughter of Henry I. Irritated at this, Fitz-John delivered the castle of Alnwick to David king of Scotland, and brought to his aid all the forces he could raise; he was, however, afterwards reconciled to King Stephen, and held the manors of Burg and Knaresborough in Yorkshire; but never recovered the government of this castle.

In the 16th of Henry II. some great repairs seem to have been done here, as in Madox's history of the exchequer, under the article of Amercements, it appears one William, son of Waldef, was fined five marks for refusing his assistance in the king's works at Baenburg castle. BAM

Its keep is supposed to have been the work of this reign.

Edward I. summoned Baliol to meet him here 1296; and on his refusal invaded Scotland and took him prisoner. Edward II. sheltered Gaveston here 1310. It was taken by the Yorkists after the battle of Hexham. In the reign of Elizabeth, Sir John Forester, warden of the marches, was governor of it, and made a knight banneret after the battle of Musselburgh; and his grandson John obtained a grant of both castle and manor from James I. His descendant Thomas forfeited it in 1715; but his maternal uncle, Nathaniel Crew bishop of Durham, purchased and bequeathed them to unconfined charitable uses. The ruins are still considerable; but many of them are now filled with sand, caught up by the winds which rage here with great violence, and carried to very distant places. The remains of a great hall are very singular; it had been warmed by two fire-places of a vast size, and from the top of every window ran a flue like that of a chimney, which reached the summits of the battlements. These flues seem designed as so many supernumerary chimneys to give vent to the smoke that the immense fires of those hospitable times filled the rooms with; for halls smoky, but filled with good cheer, were in those days thought no inconvenience. In the year 1757, the trustees for Lord Crew's charity began the repairs of the keep or great tower; the direction and management being committed to Dr Sharp archdeacon of Durham, one of their number; who has made a most judicious and humane application of his lordship's generous bequest. The walls are from 9 to 12 feet thick. The upper parts of the building have been formed into granaries; whence, in times of scarcity, corn is sold to the indigent without any distinction at four shillings per bushel. A hall and some small apartments are reserved by the Doctor, who frequently resides here to see that this noble plan is properly executed.—Among the variety of distressed who find relief from the judicious disposition of this charity, are the mariners navigating this dangerous coast, for whose benefit a constant watch is kept on the top of the tower; from whence signals are given to the fishermen of Holy Island when any ship is discovered in distress, these fishermen by their situation being able to put off their boats when none from the land can get over the breakers. The signals are so regulated as to point out the particular place where the distressed vessel lies. Besides which, in every great storm, two men on horseback patrol the adjacent coast from sunset to sunrise, who, in case of any shipwreck, are to give immediate notice at the castle. Premiums are likewise paid for the earliest information of any such misfortune. By these means the lives of many seamen have been, and will be, preserved, who would otherwise have perished for want of timely assistance. Nor does this benevolent arrangement stop here. The shipwrecked mariner finds an hospitable reception in this castle; and is here maintained for a week or longer, as circumstances may require. Here, likewise, are store-houses for depositing the goods which may be saved; instruments and tackle for weighing and raising the sunken and stranded vessels; and, to complete the whole, at the expense of this fund, the last offices are decently performed to the bodies of such drowned sailors as are cast on Bambuck shore.