IT MAY look like just other grassy bank, but this stony outcrop in the North Tyne was once a site of significant miitary importance.

It’s the site of Tarset Castle, where the noble Black Prince once clashed swords with Tarset’s William Comyn.

However, Old Father Time is no respecter of Royal personages, and since its 12th century hey-day, the castle has all but disappeared into the peaty waters of the Tarset Burn.

The hungry waters of the burn have been lapping at its very foundations for decades – but like medieval knights in armour, an army of supporters is galloping to the rescue.

The castle’s plight was first brought to the attention of the authorities by the Tarset Archive Group, but is now being tackled by an eclectic partnership of volunteers, landowners, farmers and national bodies.

The project is being co-ordinated by the Tyne Rivers Trust but involves the archive Group, the landowner Professor Elizabeth Archibald, farmer Nigel Moore, along with Historic England and Natural England

Funded by Defra, money has been made available through Natural England, thanks to a link with the farmer and the Higher Level Stewardship scheme at Mr Moore’s Tarset Hall Farm.

Hugo Remnant, who is chairman of Tyne Rivers Trust and also acts as agent to Prof. Archibald, explained: “When the problem was first highlighted, the original partnership worked with a civil engineering group whose hard-engineering proposals were felt to be too expensive and not in keeping with the rural setting of the castle.

“The group then approached Tyne Rivers Trust, and the Trust team came up with a cost effective, green engineering solution to repair the eroding river bank with traditional stone pitching and tree planting.”

River projects manager at Tyne Rivers Trust Paul Atkinson added: “The trust was keen to help, to not only protect the castle but because the ongoing erosion of the river bank and slope releases silt and soil that has a detrimental impact on fish eggs in the river and affects the freshwater pearl mussel colony that resides there.

“This project really is the perfect example of how the trust is working in partnership for the good of the river and the whole area.”