More information : A wooden fort nicknamed 'Malvoisin' was built by William
Rufus when he laid seige to Bamburgh Castle in 1095. It is thought
that the place-name 'Mizein Head' ('Maison Head' O.S.6" 1925,
NU178347) commemorates this; but 'Malvoisin' is recorded as being
erected near and in front of the castle, and to anyone studying the
position from the Castle it must be evident that it could only have
been in one place - the slightly high ground behind the Lord Crewe
Arms Hotel, extending from the main street to the old grass grown
road which runs from the Mizin Head to near the castle foot. The
reare or were traces showing that a part of the ground had once been
made up, but a wooden fort would soon disappear.
(accompanying plan shows probable site of Malvoisin at NU182349). (1) |