See cast of The Rocky Horror Show take over Sunderland's Hylton Castle
They’re time warping on Wearside all this week - and stars Brad and Janet have encountered a castle of a different kind during their time in the city.
Recreating the scene from the musical in which the wholesome pair, played by James Bisp and Haley Flaherty, get a flat tyre and knock on the door of a creepy looking mansion, the cast headed to Hylton Castle.
Greeted by butler Riff Raff, played by Ryan Carter-Wilson, they discovered Sunderland’s very own castle, which underwent a major restoration project to turn it into a visitor attraction and events space.
The castle reopened for all to enjoy in 2023. Thanks to the efforts of Cllr Denny Wilson, the Hylton Castle Trust, and a 25 year journey of campaigning, the building was eventually restored to its former glory and is once again a castle to be proud of.
The tearoom is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30am-2:30pm - but check ahead on the Hylton Castle website. You can also book guided tours on the same site.
The Rocky Horror Show is at Sunderland Empire until Saturday, January 24.
History of Sunderland’s very own castle
Hylton Castle was built by Sir William Hylton as a fortified manor house in about 1400.
While only the imposing gatehouse remains today, archaeological work and historic documents suggest it included a hall, chambers, barns and a kitchen.
The rich Hylton family had estates in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland and by the 13th century had assumed the title of a barony within the Bishopric of Durham.
The Hyltons owned the castle for more than three centuries before it became both a carpenter's workshop and a farmhouse in the 1800s. It even served as a boarding school for a short time in the 1840s with pupils including lightbulb inventor Joseph Swan.
Shipbuilder William Briggs bought the castle in 1862 and gave the gatehouse the gothic appearance it has today.
In the early 20th Century the castle became offices for the Wearmouth Coal Company, later the National Coal Board (NCB) and then a First World War solders’ training camp.
In the 40s the surrounding area became built-up with housing and the castle was subject to theft and vandalism.
Now owned by English Heritage, the castle is a Grade I-listed building and underwent multi-million pound improvements thanks to Sunderland City Council and Heritage Lottery Fund cash.
The castle also has its own ghost – namely Roger “The Cauld Lad” Skelton.
He was supposedly murdered by a 17th Century baron with a pitchfork for not readying his horse quickly enough, or for courting the Baron’s daughter depending on which story you believe.
St Catherine's Chapel also sits within the grounds. Although it’s not undergone the repairs of its neighbour, it’s well worth a visit.