[1] The route was one of the few upland passes to link England and Scotland and had remained strategically important during the medieval period.

[3] Around 1136, Alan de Bretagne, the Count of Brittany, built a timber castle in the north-west corner of the old fort.

It was unusual for a new royal castle to be built in this part of England during the 12th century, and Henry appears to have been driven by the military threat from Scotland before and during the Great Revolt of 1173 to 1174.

[7] Henry II spent almost £600 on the castle between 1170 and 1187, most of it in the first few years, rebuilding the older structure under the supervision of the Count of Brittany's local tenants, Torfin, Osbert and Stephen of Barningham.

[15] In England, the Great Revolt against Henry's rule involved a coalition of rebel barons, bolstered by support from the King of Scots and European allies.

King William the Lion pushed south from Scotland in 1173 and Bowes Castle was damaged in the raids; work was carried out in anticipation of further attacks the following year, including repairs to the chamber, gates and the construction of bulwarks around the keep.

[19] The lord of the castle was away at the time, and the attackers burnt part of a hall, drank four tuns of wine and stole armour, springalds and other goods.

[22] Facing death duties on her estate, Curzon-Howe agreed to pass the castle into the care of the Office of Works in 1931.