Castles of England/Cumbria

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Cumbria has perhaps more castles than any other county of England, a result of its proximity to the Scottish border.

Name
Type
Date
Condition
Image Ownership
/ Access
Notes (Key)
Appleby Castle Keep and bailey 110112–17th century Restored Private Restored 17th century by Lady Anne Clifford.
Armathwaite Castle Tower house 140115th century Intact Private Incorporated in later buildings.
Arnside Tower Tower house 140115th century Ruins Private Freestanding tower house.
Askerton Castle Castle 130114–16th century Restored Private, farm Altered by Anthony Salvin.
Beetham Hall Fortified manor house 130114th century Partly ruined Private
Bewcastle Castle Courtyard castle 130114–15th century Fragmentary ruins HC Sited within Roman fort.
Bewley Castle Fortified manor house 120113–14th century Fragmentary ruins Private Once a residence of the Bishops of Carlisle.
Blencow Hall Fortified house 140115–16th century Intact Holiday accommodation Altered 1590.
Brackenburgh Old Tower Pele tower 130114–15th century Substantially intact Private Adjoining large 19th century house.
Brackenhill Tower Tower house 15861586 Intact Holiday accommodation Restored 21st century.
Branthwaite Hall Pele tower 130114–15th century Intact Private 160117th century additions.
Brough Castle Keep and bailey 100111–14th century Ruins EH Restored 1659–62 by Lady Anne Clifford.
Brougham Castle Keep and bailey 120113–14th century Ruins EH Converted into country house in 17th century by Lady Anne Clifford.
Brougham Hall Fortified manor house 120113–19th century Ruins Crafts centre Ruins of 19th century house incorporating remains of earlier building.
Broughton Tower Pele tower 130114th century Intact School Incorporated in later building.
Burneside Hall Tower house 130114th century Ruins Private
Carlisle Castle Keep and bailey 110112–15th century Substantially intact EH Converted to barracks 19th century.
Catterlen Hall Tower house 140115th century Intact Private Later additions.
Clifton Hall Pele tower 150116th century Substantially intact EH Used as a farm building until 1973.
Cockermouth Castle Enclosure castle 120113–14th century Partly restored Private residence 1919th century additions.
Corby Castle Tower house 120113th century Rebuilt Private residence Concealed within a Georgian Mansion House.
Dacre Castle Tower house 130114th century Restored Private residence Restored 17th and 19th centuries.
Dalston Hall Fortified house 140115th century Intact Hotel Later additions.
Dalton Castle Pele tower 130114th century Restored ENT Remodelled c.1704 and 1856.
Drawdykes Castle Tower house 130114th century Intact Private, farm Original tower with early Classical Revival facade.
Drumburgh Castle Tower house 130114th century Habitable Private Converted into farmhouse.
Egremont Castle Enclosure castle 110112–13th century Fragmentary remains EH
Gleaston Castle Enclosure castle 130114th century Fragmentary remains Private Abandoned late 15th century.
Greystoke Castle Castle 130114–19th century Rebuilt Wedding venue Rebuilt incorporating parts of 14th century building, remodelled 1840 by Salvin.
Harbybrow Tower Pele tower 140115th century Ruin Private Adjoining 19th century farmhouse.
Hayton Castle Tower house 130114–15th century Substantially intact Private Castle converted to house.
Hazelslack Tower Pele tower 130114th century Ruins Private Near Arnside.
Howgill Castle Tower house 130114th century Substantially intact Private Altered and remodelled 17–18th century.
Hutton-in-the-Forest Pele tower 130114–19th century Intact HH Large country-house extensions.
Hutton John Pele tower 130114th century Intact HH Later alterations and additions.
Ingmire Hall Pele tower 150116–20th century Rebuilt Private apartments Incorporated in large mostly 19th century mansion.
Isel Hall Tower house 130114–15th century Intact HH Later additions.
Kendal Castle Ringwork 110112–14th century Fragmentary remains HAL
Kentmere Hall Pele tower 130114th century Intact Private
Kirkandrews Tower Pele tower 150116th century Intact Private
Kirkoswald Castle Enclosure castle 120113–15th century Fragmentary remains Private
Linstock Castle Tower house 110112–13th century Substantially intact Private Altered and remodelled 17–20th century.
Lowther Castle Neo-romantic castle 18061806–14 Ruins HH Shell of 19th century castle by Sir Robert Smirke, on site of medieval hall.
Middleton Hall Fortified manor house 130114th century Habitable Private Altered and extended 15–19th centuries.
Millom Castle Castle 130114th century Ruins HC 150116–17th century farmhouse built into ruins.
Muncaster Castle Tower house 120113–14th century Restored HH Remodelled by Anthony Salvin, home of Tom Fool, 16th century jester.
Naworth Castle Keep and bailey 120113–16th century Restored Wedding venue
Earl of Carlisle
Altered and restored 18th and 19th centuries.
Newbiggin Hall Fortified house 140115–16th century Intact Private Remodelled by Salvin.
Pendragon Castle Tower house 110112–14th century Fragmentary remains HC
Penrith Castle Castle 130114–15th century Fragmentary remains EH
Piel Castle Castle 130114–15th century Ruins EH Also known as Fouldrey Castle.
Prior's Tower, Carlisle Pele tower 140115th century Intact Church of England Part of the Deanery, alongside later buildings.
Rose Castle Quadrangular Castle 140115–16th century Restored Church of England Converted to private house 17th century, residence of the Bishop of Carlisle until 2011.
Scaleby Castle Tower house 120113–15th century Partly ruined Private Incorporated with later house.
Sizergh Castle Tower house 130114–16th century Restored ENT Altered 18–20th centuries.
Toppin Castle Sham castle 1919th century Intact Private Imitation tower house.
Ubarrow Hall Pele tower 1401Medieval Substantially intact Private Alongside later building, reduced in height.
Wharton Hall Fortified manor house 130114–17th century Partly restored Private
Whelp Castle, Kirkby Thore Masonry castle Mentioned 1199 No trace above ground Private field Traces visible 1777
Whitehall, Mealsgate Tower house 130114–15th century Substantially intact Holiday accommodation Alterations by Salvin.
Workington Hall Tower house 130114–18th century Ruins Local authority Also known as Curwen Hall.
Wray Castle Neo-romantic castle 18401840–7 Intact ENT
Wraysholme Tower Tower house 140115th century Substantially intact Private, farm Used as barn and cow-house, adjoining 19th century house.
Yanwath Hall Pele tower 140115th century Intact Private Adjoining later building.
Appleby Castle from above
Caesar's Tower

Appleby Castle is in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria overlooking the River Eden. It consists of a 12th-century castle keep which is known as Caesar's tower, and a mansion house. These, together with their associated buildings, are set in a courtyard surrounded by curtain walls. The castle was founded by Ranulf le Meschin at the beginning of the 12th century. In about 1170 the square stone keep was built. The castle was in Royal hands when the Scottish King, William the Lion, invaded the Eden Valley in 1174. The constable of the castle surrendered without a fight.

In 1203 the castle was granted to Robert de Vieuxpont by King John. In 1269 it came into the possession of Roger de Clifford and it remained in the ownership of the Clifford family for nearly 400 years. The upper parts of Caesar's tower were altered in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The north wall of house and the west part of north wing with the round tower date from the 13th century. The eastern part of the house was built in 1454. The house was partly dismantled in 1648 and was restored by Lady Anne Clifford in 1651–53. The house was largely rebuilt in 1686 and the north-west wing was added in 1695. In the 19th century it was again restored and sash windows were inserted.

Caesar's tower is built in grey stone rubble and ashlar. It is about 80 ft high and has four storeys. The main house is in two wings which are at right angles to each other. A semicircular round tower protrudes from the north wall of the north wing and a large square tower is at the south end of the east wing. The gateway is in grey stone and battlemented, dating probably from the 17th century. In the grounds of the castle is Lady Anne's Bee-house, which was built by Lady Anne Clifford in the middle of the 17th century. It is a square, stone building in two storeys with a pyramid roof and a door on the lower level. The upper level has a pointed arched window on each of three sides and a door on the fourth side.