- Type
- Ruin
- Built
- c. 1214 · 13th century
- Location
- England, United Kingdom
- Architect
- Anne Clifford
- Coordinates
- 54.6533°, -2.7180°
History
The castle was built on the edge of the Roman fort of Brocavum by Robert de Vieuxpont, who received the lands of Westmorland from King John in 1203; the keep dates from around 1214. In the late 13th century the estate passed to the Clifford family, who strengthened the fortress with a massive gatehouse complex needed during the wars with Scotland. By the 17th century the castle was neglected, until in the 1650s Lady Anne Clifford, heiress to the family's northern estates, had it restored. She died here in 1676, and soon afterwards her heirs abandoned the building, which gradually fell into ruin.
What to see
The ruins rise on the bank of the River Eamont next to the clearly visible ramparts of the Roman fort. The best-preserved parts are the keep, with a small oratory on its top floor, and the double gatehouse. Reused Roman tombstones can be spotted in the walls, and from the top of the keep there are views over the river valley to the Pennines.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q2968700
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