The owner Sir William Heron was granted a licence to crenellate the castle in 1338.

On his death, the property passed to his granddaughter Susannah who had married the Marquess of Waterford.

In 1862 Louisa, Dowager Marchioness of Waterford (d 1891), widow of the 3rd Marquess, restored and substantially remodelled the Hall.

The castle was acquired in 1907 by the coal-mining magnate James Joicey, 1st Baron Joicey, and it stayed with his family, in 1956 it was leased to Northumberland County Council as a Young Persons' Residential Centre.

In 2022, Ford Castle was acquired by PGL who now operate the site as an outdoor activity centre offering residential trips for schools, groups and young people.