Francis Watson-Armstrong, who inherited Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland at age 22, has spoken about the growing financial burden of maintaining the historic landmark. He also revealed that Bernard Cornwell, author of The Last Kingdom series, has a claim to the property through his birth parents.
Rising costs and strict filming terms
Watson-Armstrong told The Times that while the castle has been used in film and TV productions, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (where it doubled as a WWII German castle), he must impose strict terms to cover lost visitor revenue during closures. “Television and film shoots can be a valuable source of income but if we have to close the castle, the fee has to cover the cost of any lost visitor revenue,” he said.
Author's unexpected connection
Watson-Armstrong disclosed that Cornwell, who was adopted, discovered his birth parents had ties to the castle. “The novelist Bernard Cornwell, who wrote the books and was also adopted, discovered that he has a claim to the castle via his birth parents,” he said. He jokingly added: “If you want to pay the bills, you can have it!”
Financial pressures and red tape
The owner described the constant battle to keep the castle in the family. “I want to keep the castle in the family and pass it on to my children but it's a constant battle,” he said. He highlighted that business rates are becoming unaffordable, and the recent hike in national insurance cannot be passed on to visitors. “We have to take the hit. Some of the red tape we encounter is also bonkers: as a listed building it can take up to a year to get consent to carry out urgent repairs,” he added.
Tourist tax concerns
Watson-Armstrong's comments come after the government introduced the Overnight Visitor Levy Bill, which aims to impose a tourist tax across English towns. Pete Brend, director of Brend Hotels, told The Telegraph: “The tourism levy would be another nail in the coffin of seaside towns dependent on tourism. Employment in these areas depends on the industry. Any added costs are just taking away the potential of any growth for businesses, therefore leading to higher rates of unemployment.”
