Langley Castle Hotel, in Langley-on-Tyne near Hexham, was built in 1350 during the reign of Edward III.
The castle, estimated around 1920. A sketch from an original painting by EL Forrest (Image: Hexham Local History Society) The 14th-century castle contains an award-winning restaurant, luxury accommodation and offers the perfect romantic setting for a fairytale wedding.
It is regarded as one of the few medieval fortified castle hotels in England, alongside the opulent Thornbury Castle in Bristol and Amberley Castle in West Sussex, and has been owned along with its estate by several lords and ladies over the past 600 years.
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Derwentwater Cross, Langley, circa 1900. A woman prepares a wreath at the memorial for the two Barons of Langley, Edward Radcliffe and James Radcliffe, beheaded in 1705 and 1716, respectively, following their support for the Jacobite cause (Image: Hexham Local History Society) The castle was restored in the twentieth century by linguist and historian, Cadwallader John Bates and his wife Josephine following his death in 1902.
It was later respectively used as a girls’ school, a hall for medieval banquets, and a private residence.
Guests mingle in the drinks reception sponsored by the Hexham Courant at the Rotary Club dinner at Langley Castle in 2014 (Image: Kate Miller) Langley Castle was purchased by Stuart Madnick of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States in 1986.
Langley Castle with its new glass pavilion on the west side, which was opened to mark the 25th anniversary of the Madnick family taking over by councillor Rad Hare, mayor of Hexham (left), and Esmond Faulks, chair of Haydon Bridge Parish Council (Image: Tony Iley) It has undergone restorations to elevate it to the luxury hotel and restaurant it is today.
Dr Madnick purchased a copper alloy oval-shaped seal matrix from the medieval period, discovered in a field in South Tyneside by metal detecting enthusiast, Warrick Rochester, in 2022.
Tynedale Business Awards at Langley Castle. The Large Business Award in association with Tynedale Council was won by the Hexham Courant in 2009 (Image: Tony Iley) The seal carried the name of Adam de Tindal – also known in history as Adam de Tindale and Adam de Tynedale – in the inscription, SIGILLVm ADE DE TInDAL. This translates as seal [of] Adam of Tindal/Tynedale and was dated between 1175 and 1250.
The seal from the medieval period (Image: Supplied) One customer in particular has graced the hotel’s history over the last 30 years.
Warrick Rochester (left) and Dr Stuart Madnick, owner of Langley Castle (right) in 2022 with the seal discovered in a field in South Tyneside (Image: Supplied) 92-year-old Molly Robinson from Alston, Cumbria, has visited the castle every Thursday since 1987. Her unwavering loyalty and unique dining habits have sparked a nationwide fascination.
Molly Robinson from Cumbria has visited the hotel every Thursday since 1987 (Image: Langley Castle) Molly’s weekly 30-mile round trip by taxi to the castle near Hexham is driven by her deep appreciation for the warm and friendly team at Langley Castle.
She has ordered the same meal: the soup of the day, followed by fish and chips with two mini pots of ketchup instead of tartare sauce or peas, and two glasses of champagne. This unconventional combination has now become the most sought-after order at the castle.