Which Northumbrian stronghold's estate has had a herd of 'captive' white cattle since 1292?

Chillingham?

 

Though their origin is uncertain, the existing herd is thought to have been at Chillingham for at least the past 700 years.

Before that, it is probable that they roamed the great forest which extended from the North Sea coast to the Clyde estuary; and it is presumed that when, some time in the 13th century, the King of England gave permission for Chillingham Castle to be "castellated and crenolated" and for a park wall to be built, the herd was corralled for purposes of food.

The successful capture of a number of wild cattle in those days would not only have eased the local food situation, but would also have made it impossible for raiders to take such cattle back with them across the border since, being wild and extremely fierce, they could not have been driven like their domestic cousins.

 

also a little more info from here in okla http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/whitepark/

Your turn.

Black within and mostly red without,

Sometimes of stone and sometimes not,

I reach for the stars when they are out.

With four corners round about,

 

What am I?

A Dragon?

nope sorry try again, but he does have fire in his belly

A chimney?

yup that was one of Meg's little riddles, your up

Life's poor day I'll musing rave

And find at night a sheltering cave,

Where waters flow and wild woods wave,

By bonie Castle ******."

 

Name that castle!

Castle Gordon, of course!