The tower house is 66 feet (20 m) tall, built out of local sandstone, topped by crenellations, with four turrets protruding from a central block, and includes an ornate lavabo in the main hall.

[2] Ralph married Margaret in 1317, becoming extremely wealthy as a result, and received permission to found Naworth Castle in 1335.

[2] Margaret built Dacre Castle at some point between Ralph's death in 1339 and 1354, with the intention of creating a fortified home.

[9] The property required extensive structural repairs and renovations in order to be made habitable, which the Kinsmans undertook over the next two years.

[11] In 1967, the castle was visited by Princess Sharada Shah, the daughter of the King Mahendra of Nepal, as part of an official trip to the UK.

[16] The courtyard originally held various buildings, possibly stables and offices, but the tower house was designed to operate independently, without the need for attached facilities.

[18] The building was originally entered through the south-west turret on the ground-floor, but since the 17th century the entrance way has been directly into the central block up an exterior staircase.