Lowther Castle, Lowther

Lowther Castle

Lowther

Cumbria

About a mile to the West of the village of Lowther, and South of the church of St Michael, Lowther castle overlooks the massive parks laid out in the early 19th century.

The castle was built in started in 1806 for Sir Hugh Lowther, and built following designs by Sir Robert Smirke. This relatively modern 19th century building is sited either on, or near earlier towers and peles, dating from 1272, 1350, 1628 and 1692. These earlier buildings were variously great houses, fortified towers\pele towers and minor castles. However, the castle we see today is no more than a ‘faux’ castle….a fake built to indicate the power and wealth of the Lowther family.

This area has been the seat of the Lowthers since the reign of Edward I, and the family have been knighted almost continually since this period, from generation to generation.

Today, the castle is empty and in places in danger of complete collapse. It seems that the expense of running such a splendid and massive castle or house, was too much for the Lowthers, and in 1935 it was closed. Most of the interior was removed and perhaps sold, including roofing materials and marble floors and staircases. The castle isn’t open to the public at the moment, although it undergoing some reconstruction and consolidation to ensure that further collapse is halted.

As the castle is built on private land, it's extremely difficult to get a good, close up photo of it. There is a footpath that runs through the park, enabling closer inspection, so a return visit will be necessary in future.

St Peter's church, Askham

St Peter's
Askham

Cumbria

The small church of St Peter, just outside the hamlet of Askham, is tucked away on the banks of the river Lowther. The church is in the middle of a collection of buildings and sites. To the West lays Askham Hall, a large inhabited pele tower screened from the road by trees (just my luck!!), Lowther Castle to the East, and the church of St Michael to the North. As well as these magnificent buildings, there are a number of medieval and older earthworks, including the remains of a pele tower hidden away in a small copse of trees less than a mile to the North.

The church was rebuilt almost entirely in 1832, replacing an earlier church. Indeed, records show that from around 1240, there was a place of worship here dedicated to St Kentigern. Sir Robert Smirke was employed to design the new\replacement church, following on from work he was undertaking on Lowther Castle.

There are only a few old relics of times past in the church these days. The first is a font with the date 1661 engraved on it.

The second is an Elizabethan tomb chest (very intact)

The third is a medieval corbel mounted up on the wall, with a face carved in it.

Clifton Tower\Pele, Clifton

Clifton Tower\Pele
Clifton
Cumbria

Clifton Tower is sited to the West of the A6 as it passes through the village of Clifton, just outside Penrith. The tower is the isolated remains of a larger group of buildings, thought to date from the 1500’s. The building doesn’t possess the normal thick defensive walls of other pele towers and fortified dwellings in the area, so it’s assumed that it was built in less turbulent times.

The tower measures a meagre 33 by 26 feet, however accommodation was split over three floors, each with one or two rooms divided by thin red brick walls. Marks of earlier buildings can still be seen etched into the outer walls, indicating the presence long ago of additional buildings and wings. Indeed, the tower is all that now remains, albeit with the outline of foundations in the surrounding yard. The last of these buildings were demolished in the 1800’s and some new and larger windows inserted.

The tower was built by the Wybergh family who are represented by some wall memorials in the nearby church of St Cuthbert.

The above wall memorial tells us of the marriage of Elianor de Engayne to William de Wybergh. The stained glass window below, appears to show us Helynor Ingayne (same person, different spelling!!!)

The tower was plundered by Jacobite troops in 1745 before the battle of Clifton Moor….the last battle to be fought on English soil. They are believed to have lived on this site from about 1365, until the land passed to the Lowthers in 1705 after they had re-mortgaged in the 1650’s.

On the day that I visited (my third visit) the hall was open, and I was able to gain entry to inspect the interior. As far as I can tell, it’s been renovated to the stage where it’s safe to enter, and even to climb the spiral staircase hidden away in the newel tower. A gallery has been created on the first floor, enabling you to look onto the first floor (albeit fragmented) down into the ground floor rooms, and up to the second floor living space.

The hall is situated in the middle of a working farm yard, although a footpath now leads from the main road to the compound that the tower sits within.

The English Heritage web site states that the tower is open Monday to Friday, and every day except Christmas day and New Year’s day.

Across the road lays the church of St Cuthbert, which some sources say is built on the site of an early motte and bailey castle.

The church is definitely built on the summit of a mound, albeit a very low mound, perhaps some three metres at its highest point at the road side, but the mound is higher towards the back of the church. There is a lack of sufficient documentary evidence to support this claim, although given the proliferation of fortifications in this area, it's not beyond belief.

Philip Davis of the Gatehouse web site would be telling me to look for ditches and earthen ramparts, but there are none to be seen around the church and its grounds. There's obviously plenty of room for more research on this site.

St Andrew's Church, Penrith

St Andrews
Penrith
Cumbria

The church of St Andrew is situated at the junctions of Middle Gate and King Street just off the market place in Penrith. The church is surrounded by a mixture of modern and older buildings, some dating to the 1600’s. From the outside, the church looks fairly recent, and the tower’s looks certainly do not give away the fact that it is somewhere in the region of 620 years old!! Indeed, the main body of the church we see today dates from 1720 to 1722, when a major period of rebuilding was undertaken. The new building was probably built following designs laid down by Nicholas Hawksmoor. However…..the tower is the most interesting piece of this building. It’s believed that it dates from the 1300’s, and was built as a place of refuge for the people of Penrith against Scottish incursions into the town.

In 1337, the Scots raided south of the border, reaching as far as Carlisle. The city was surrounded and those parts outside of the secure walls were burnt. Rose Castle was severely damaged and huge swaithes of country side put to the sword and the flame. In 1342, the Scots raided south once again, this time reaching as far south as Gilsland and then Penrith. And, once again, they burnt nearly everything they came across. Three years later, Sir William Douglas led yet another Scottish army over the border, Penrith receiving the brunt of his army's willingness to lay waste to the countryside. Penrith was burnt again, and Douglas' army returned North with huge amounts of loot.

In 1380, Penrith was once again the target for another Scottish incursion. This time though, the raid coincided with one of the town's fairs, and the population was therefore swelled. Many people were killed, and even more were probably taken hostage...an act common in these sorts of military incursions. It's not clear what role the tower of St Andrew's may have played in these dangerous times, but at least some of the town's inhabitants would have found refuge behind the huge thick walls.

The tower was built along the lines of a pele tower, with walls that are 6 feet thick in places. The tower would originally have had a fortified door way, but this has been replaced by a new door, probably dating from around the 1720’s.

Inside the tower, the thickness of the walls can be seen from the windows cut into the walls. The stair case is split in two, and runs either side of the interior. At the top are two stone effigies, very badly defaced. These represent members of the Hutton family, well known local land owners of the time. At the top of the stairs, a wooden bowl with the date 1661 can be seen, alongside a huge medieval parish chest. Looking back down the stairs, an ornate clock hangs from the wall, all the cogs and innards on show.



The church itself is galleried on three sides, with the galleries being supported on round pillars. At the end of the Nave, huge brass chandeliers can be seen hanging from the ceiling. These were presented to the people of Penrith as a gift from the Duke of Portland for their help during the Jacobite uprising of 1745.


Either side of the altar, huge wall paintings can be seen. One represents the appearance of an angel to a group of men, the other an angel speaking to jesus. These were painted by Jacob Thompson in 1845.


There are a number of stained glass windows throughout the church, the most special containing the fragmented remains of a 15th century window.


Outside the church, lays the Giant’s Grave. This was once believed to have been the last resting place of Owen Caesarius, King of Cumbria from 900 to 937 AD. The ‘grave’ is actually made up of four hog back stones, and two Viking crosses. The two crosses, one of which is nearly 11 feet tall, would probably have been used to mark the burial places of kings, warlords or chieftains.

The church is open most days (although check for any services) and the open door policy is most welcome.

Hutton Hall, Penrith

Hutton Hall

Penrith

Cumbria

At the junctions of Friargate, Folly Lane and Benson Row in Penrith sits Hutton Hall. The building consists of three seperate but conjoined structures. The main and largest part of the building is the red Penrith trade mark sandstone 18th century building, now occupied by Greggs' Cumbrian headquarters This part of the building used to be the Masonic Hall. The second part of the building is the small cottage joined to the right of the main building. The cottage is 17th century and the oldest part of the whole building is joined to the back of this cottage. Walking down the side of the cottage into Benson Row, the pele tower rises above the walled enclosure that now surrounds the site (a modern wall I might add)

The pele tower is an almost square structure, probably three or maybe four storeys high, although the small off-set windows make it difficult to tell. These small windows don't seem to have been altered at all from their original design, although the lower ones may have been added at a much later date. The tower 'may' have been built in 1397, when William Strickland obtained license to crennelate his dwelling. However, some documentary sources think this license may actually concern Strickland's pele tower, the original part of Penrith Castle. Whatever the relationship with this documentary evidence, the tower was most certainly built in the late 1300's and is in remarkably good condition.

As more information is found regarding this brilliant pele tower, these details will be added.

St Michael's church, Lowther

Church of St Michael

Lowther

Cumbria

This church is situated about half a mile across the Lowther park from the shell of Lowther Castle. The road that runs past the church runs through the park to Askham, a small village about two miles West of the A6.

The church is visible from the road, with the imposing Lowther mausoleum built in 1857 for the Lowther family. The mausoleum is gothic architecture at its best, with four griffin type beasts mounted on each corner of this small building. The crest of the Lowther family (six circles within a shield) is mounted above the doorway, and at the foot of a short flight of stairs, huge studded, wooden doors with a date of 1857 stand.

The church is situated at the end of a the fell\common, with steep drop to its West side, dropping down to the River Lowther. The tower is buried amongst the Chancel to the East, the Nave to the West, the North Transept and the South Transept. Indeed the tower, buried amongst 17th century additions, dates from the 13th century, with its four huge arches.

The oldest parts of the church however, are the 12th century pillars that stand to your left as you enter the church. There are three complete pillars, and two that are buried in the walls. The capitals topping each of these pillars, are richly decorated with zephyrs, grapes, running beasts, foliage and scallops. At the foot of the second pillar, are four heads, each supporting the pillar base.

In the North trancept, are various memorials to members of the Lowther family, with the centre piece being the huge marbled tomb of William Lowther, Earl of Lonsdale.

Tucked away in the South transept, and partially hidden by the huge organ that is placed here, is an effigy of Sir Richard Lowther and the reclining figure of John, Viscount Lonsdale. There are also busts of two Sir John Lowthers.

There are only two stained glass windows in the church, each standing over the altar.

The earlier church of the mid 12th century, was rebuilt and remodelled in 1686 by Sir John Lowther. The tower was altered and heightened, along with the rebuilding of the outer walls of the Nave, aisles, trancepts and chancel.

Later work was done on the outer walls of the whole of the church.

Laverock Bridge, Skelsmergh

Laverock Bridge
Skelsmergh
nr Kendal
Cumbria

Laverock Bridge carries Mealbank road across the River Mint just outside Kendal and South of Skelsmergh. The bridge is mentioned in documents dating from 1692. The bridge is a steep, single arched structure, which was once a narrow pack bridge. The North side of the bridge is the oldest\original part of the bridge, and can be seen beneath the single arch as the narrow section of brick work. The South portion of the bridge is the later (undated) portion of the bridge, added to increase the width without necessitating the building of a completely new bridge.

The oldest part is the right hand section. The newer part, is the left hand section.

In 1708\1709 the bridge was judged to have been in a poor state of repairs, and documents show that the Chief Constable, Mr Will Shepherd was instructed to inspect the bridge and arrange any necessary repairs.

In October of 1726 the local High Constable was instructed to again inspect the bridge and assess the necessary repairs. In this instance, William Newby was contracted to carry out the repairs, which were completed in 1727. For this work, he was paid £3 10s.

In 1738, the bridge was partly demolished by Joseph Sisson of Kirkby Kendall (Kendal). The records do not state why he caused the bridge to be damaged, but for this act of vandalism, he was fined 6d.

In January 1748, the bridge was once again judged to be out of repair, although this time, records don't state what remedial action was taken.

In April 1756, the bridge's state of disrepair was judged to have been so bad, that repairs were once again demanded. It wasn't until 1759 that the repairs were once again reported on, when the bridge was found to be in excellent condition.

In October 1868, it was remarked that the Iron bolts holding the two 'composite' bridges together were in a poor state of repair. It was feared that should the bolts fail, the bridge may split and become unusable.

In 1920, the brige was once again inspected, and found to be in need of yet more work. A quotation was received for the work, advising that the repairs would cost around £920. The advice was not acted upon, and only the bolts were inspected.

Sizergh Castle, Sizergh

Sizergh Castle
Sizergh
nr Kendal
Cumbria

Sizergh castle sits about two miles to the South of Kendal, and about a quarter of a mile West of the A591. It is one of a group of great houses\castles in the area that started off as defensive structures and later became luxurious homes. Others in the area are Muncaster Castle and Levens Hall.

The area around Sizergh, has been continually occupied since the ninth or tenth centuries, with the first inhabitants being Scandinavian settlers. Sometime between 1170 and 1180, Sizergh was included as part of a larger swaith of lands, as a grant to Gervase Deincourt, by Henry II. A relative of Gervase's settled in the area, and no doubt took command of the day to day running of the huge estate. The main part of the Deincourt family settled in Blankney in Lincolnshire however. When Gervase's great grandson died, the estate was taken over by Elizabeth, his great granddaughter the sole heiress to the vast estate. She in turn, conveyed ownership of the estate to her husband, Sir William Strickland. The year was 1239, and from this date forward, Sizergh has been continually the primary residence of the Strickland family.

The Strickland family name can be traced back to a family called de Castlecarrock, most likely descended from a Norman family called the Vaux's or de Vallibus. Walter de Castlecarrock married and moved South, to an area called Great Strickland. Around 1179, he changed his name to de Strikeland. The name Strickland can find its roots in the word Stercaland, a Westmorland name meaning 'pasture of young cattle', and is the name of one of Kendal's main streets, Stricklandgate. Walter was knighted at some point, and his grand son was Sir William Stirckland, the husband of Elizabeth Deincourt.

The oldest part of the castle, is the four storey tower. This portion of the castle was probably built in around 1340, after Sir Walter was granted licence in 1332 to enclose his lands for ever, and to create a park. An interesting aside here, is that Sir Walter's sister, Joan Strickland was married to Robert de Wessington, an early ancestor of the Washington's of Warton in Lancashire. Descended from this family, was the first President of the United States, George Washington. The early tower, is 18 and a half metres long, and nearly 11 metres wide. As you look at the entrance to the castle, as shown in the photo below, the tower (most likely a pele tower) is the building to the right of the door. The walls are, in some places, up to 2 and a half metres thick. The turret that can be seen at the back of the tower, is the stair turret, carrying a spiral staircase to the four storeys of the tower.

The tower is surrounded by later buildings dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, all of a non-defensive nature, and designed with comfort in mind.

The Strickland family have a long history of alliance with the Parr's of Kendal, and the chapel dedicated to the Strickland family in Kendal Parish church, is testament to their connection with the town. Indeed, Katherine Parr lived at the castle for a number of years prior to her marriage to Henry VIII. In 1530 she sent him a coat of Kendal cloth as a gift. Her residence at Sizergh Castle was a precautionary arrangement after the death of her mother, to oversee her inheritance then under the control of her brother. The Queen's room at the castle still displays the huge counterpane and toilet cover that Katherine embroidered. These quarters are situated in the older portion of the castle, then called the Deincourt Tower.

Castle Stede, Hornby

Castle Stede
Hornby
Lancashire

One mile North of Hornby, just off the A683, the earthwork remains of Castle Stede guard the crossing of the river Lune. Together with motte and bailey castles to the North in Arkholme, Whittington and Kirkby Lonsdale, to the East in Melling, and to the South in Halton, this is the largest concentration of these earthwork remains to be found outside of Wales. Of these castles, Castle Stede is perhaps the largest, most complex and best preserved example in the area and even possibly in the UK.

The remains are easily accessable from the road to the south of the bailey. You can park on the other side of the bridge, and walk back towards the remains. Entry is through a thin gap in the wall, a short walk up the field, and the entrance to the bailey is marked by a modern stone causeway over the ditches.

The remains are thought to be from the 13th century, and overlay the remains of an iron age hill fort. From this, it's plain to see that the river crossing here was very important from the earliest of times. The motte is approached through the bailey, which is laid out to the left and right as you cross over the causeway. The earthwork ditches and banks are still very much in evidence, providing good defensive barriers against any attack. The oval shaped bailey is around 70 by 60 metres, and is surrounded by a ditch and raised bank reaching an additional height of around 2 metres in places. The North and West sides of the bailey are also protected by the high sided natural embankment, with the North side falling away sharply towards the river, some 4o feet below.

The motte stands at the far Eastern end of the bailey, seperated by a deep ditch, some 3 metres deep. The motte itself stands to a height of around 8 metres, with a fairly flat summit of 15 metres across. The motte is fairly intact, but suffers slightly from rabbits and a few mature trees growing from the sides. The base of the motte has been walled up, probably to prevent any slippage, and this, unsightly as it is, seems to have done the trick. The motte is protected on its West, South and East sides by ditches and emmbankments, still very much in evidence. The North face of the motte decends to the river, again around 40 feet below.

There is documentary evidence to suggest that the castle was in use in 1205, when it was taken from Roger de Montbegon by King John, and returned a mere three months later. There doesn't seem to be any other sites to which this documentary evidence could relate to....Hornby castle some two miles to the East wasn't built until much later.

So important was the crossing here just outside Hornby, that a pill box was constructed during the second world war, no doubt designed to offer protection of the river crossing in the event of a German invasion.

Mottes in Kendal

Kendal
Cumbria

As well as the more well known motte and bailey castles in and around Kendal, there are at least two mottes in Kendal, with, perhaps dubious, antiquity. This basically means that they may, or may not be medieval motte and bailey castles. They may be lesser sites, possibly centres of administration and not defensive structures, or they may just be natural geological occurances. Whatever, I think they deserve some mention here.

The first of these sites is situated near a farm called Birds Hill Farm, about a half a mile up the old Sedbergh road. The site is tucked away in the corner of a field, with a stream running around its base. The motte, if that is truly what it is, is about 15 metres high on its Southern flank where the stream seperates it from the rest of the field.

The Northern and Eastern flanks are about three metres high. There's no doubt that this motte is made from a natural feature in the landscape, but at the same time, it's also possible that whomever used it as a place of local administration, built upon it to further enhance its position. I don't have any dates regarding the use of this motte, or any further history at all.

The second motte is situated in the middle of a busy housing estate to the North of the town, sandwiched between Kettlewell Road, Aysgarth Close and Low Garth. This motte is reputedly the suggested site of a pre-conquest administrative centre. The motte has steep sides and may have been an early medieval fort of some sort. It stands to a height of around eight metres, and is very well defined.

I'm again unable to find any datings for this site, who built it or what it was used for, and there is some suggestion that it may even be a spoil heap from the nearby railway.

There are even a few sites within Kendal, and one or two on the outskirts of town that are known or at least thought to have been very early medieval mottes, perhaps sites of local administration rather than full blown motte and bailey castle such as Kendal's Castle Howe.

Just outside Kendal, there is a motte, visited last year, that lends some weight to the "is it - or isn't it" argument. Situated about two miles West of Kendal on Hawes Lane just outside Natland, Hawes Bridge Motte is mostly hidden from view from the road. The earthwork remains sit just above the river Kent, appearing to defend the river crossing. The motte stands in an area generally thought to contain the remains of a deserted medieval settlement called Bothelford, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The remains stand to around six metres high and would have afforded a good view of the river crossing and the surrounding country side. There do not appear to be any remains of banks and\or ditches. There is a question hanging over the validity of this motte, in that it's very near to the route of the Lancaster to Kendal canal, so there is every possibilty that it's actually a spoil heap. Still the location looks good for a defensive site at the river crossing, and so near to the possibly deserted village.

Castle Howe, Tebay

Castle Howe
Tebay
Cumbria

About a half mile North of Tebay, and just off the A685 in Old Tebay, the remains of Castle Howe sit on the banks of a fledgling River Lune and Birk Beck. Where the two rivers meet would have been well guarded by the castle, although both rivers have long since shifted their courses.

The Lune for example has moved nearer to the North side of the motte, and has consequently eroded at least half of the 6 metre tall mound.

The remaining earthworks are none the less quite spectacular. They are visible from North and South bound traffic on the M6 motorway just by junction 38.

The motte stands to an impressive 6 metres tall, although it is now crescent shaped rather than round as it would originally have been. The top of the mound appears to have been scooped, indicating the remains of a breastwork, or embankment providing further protection to the summit of the motte.

The bailey lays to the South of the motte, and the two areas are separated by a ditch some 6 metres wide and around 2 metres deep. The bailey is huge, and distinctly crescent shaped....although again, whether this is down to design or erosion is difficult to tell. The bailey stretches South all the way to the motorway embankment, and measures roughly 133 by 61 metres, and is raised above the surrounding fields by about 2 metres. There are numerous earthworks surrounding the remains, including deep ditches and high banks, but seeing as the site is so close the motorway, it's difficult to tell if these are as a result of the building of the M6, or part of the original castle's defences.

It is believed that the castle was the seat of the de Tybai, or Tibbay, family in the 12 century, with historical documents mentioning a Herbert de Tibbay and his son Richard in 1201.

It isn't the only defensive structure in the area. About a mile to the West, and on the banks of Birk Beck, lay what are described as the remains of a second unfinished motte and bailey, Greenholme. (Not visited yet, and not shown here) This motte has a huge summit, measuring around 23 by 9 metres, but doesn't appear to have any earthwork defences. Local tradition holds that these two motte and bailey castles were used to halt the advances of successive Scottish armies on their way South.

The remains of both of these mottes were once thought to have been Roman...probably owing to the close proximity of Low Borrowbridge Roman fort South of Tebay, and the Roman road running to Carlisle. The remains are accessible via the footpath that runs from Old Tebay just off the B6260, passing along the base of the motte, and right through the bailey. This castle is well worth a visit.

Kirfitt Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirfitt Hall

Kirkby Lonsdale

Cumbria

To the West of the A683 and about a mile North West of Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirfitt Hall sits next to the River Lune. Clearly visible from Ruskins Brow behind the church in Kirkby Lonsdale, the rectangular tower can be seen towering over the later farm buildings.

The collection of buildings at the farm are generally thought to date from the early 17th century, although it's thought that the tower contains parts of an earlier pele tower, and all were certainly built on the remains of an earlier hall.

Kirfitt (sometimes called Kerfitt, sometimes Kirfit) has romantic connections with Henry VIII. It is alleged that the king visited and stayed the night at the hall, when he was courting Katherine Parr. Apparently the headless apparition of Anne Boleyn made an appearance that night, disturbing the King's sleep. The rumours of the King staying here are probably groundless, as it's highly unlikely that Katherine Parr spent much time in Kendal.....the Parr family spent much more time in London at this time.

The tower is now nearly derelict, whilst the late 17th and early 18th century farm house and out buildings are in good condition. The tower is four storeys high, with a staircase tower adjoining. To the North of the tower in the fields, feint earthworks can be seen, perhaps the remains of protective ditches and banks.

The farm is at the end of a private drive, and the tower can only be viewed from a distance from Ruskins Brow in Kirkby Lonsdale. It is the distinct tower rising from behind the multi coloured barn in the foreground.

Dalton Tower, Dalton-in-Furness

Dalton Tower

Dalton-in-Furness

Cumbria

Dalton Tower stands at the junctions of Skelgate, Church Street and the Market Place. The tower is thought to have been built on the instructions of the Abbot of Furness Abbey after the Scots raided the area in 1314 and 1316. There's every possability that the present tower was a replacement for an earlier building that stood on this spot from 1239 onwards, and there is documentary evidence of a court house on this site from at least 1257. The tower is certainly spectacular, rising as it does in the midst of the more modern buildings of the town of Dalton-in-Furness.

The tower stands 13 metres high, and measures 13.7 metres by 9.1 metres, with walls between 1.5 and 1.8 metres thick. The west wall is around 2.7 metres, and protects a spiral staircase rising to the floors above. The tower is now two storeys high, but was originally three storeys. The interior has been changed so many times it is impossible to tell what the original layout would have looked like.

In 1539, the tower's ownership passed to the crown, and the building was still probably being used as a place of refuge for the Abbot of the abbey nearby. In 1545, the tower was turned into to a prison, but was in a poor state of repair. Much of the roof's thatching was in need of replacement, and subsequent leaks meant that much of the floor and roof materials were rotten, and most of the lime had been washed out of the walls. In 1546 however, it was repaired using materials from the now dissolved abbey.

Charles II granted the tower to the Duke of Abermarle in 1662, and from the Duke it passed to the Dukes of Buccleuch. It was during the ownership of Buccleuch that many alterations were made.

From 1694 to 1714, the tower was a court house, with the cellar beneath being used as a gaol. The tower was again used as a prison during the 1770's, and by the end of the 19th century, was being used as an armoury for local militia volunteers. In 1856 the top two storeys were merged into one.

Hazelslack Tower, Storth

Hazelslack Tower

Near Storth

Cumbria

The four story Hazelslack Tower lays a few yards off the B5282 near the village of Storth, West of Beetham and South of Kendal. The tower that survives is today interpreted as a pele tower and the solar block to a now demolished hall. The only reminders of the former hall block, are the marks of the eaves on the walls of the tower. A huge firelplace can still be seen where the hall joined the tower.

The tower was most probably built during the late 14th century, and was certainly in ruin by the 17th century. The many windows mostly remain in situ, with their sandstone surrounds mostly intact.

The tower was reputedly built by Lucy, Margaret and Katherine de Throeng. Together with their brother, Thomas de Throeng, they owned one quarter of the Barony of Kendal. The tower was built in conjunction with a tower at Dallam, now demolished and replaced with the great hall, and also Arnside. It may also be that the tower at Hazelslack was incomplete....maybe the threat of Scottish raids had subsided by the time the building was underway.

The tower is easily visable from the road, and forms an integral part of the Limestone Link walk from Arnside to Kirkby Lonsdale, passing through some great limestone countryside.

Skelsmergh Hall, Kendal

Skelsmergh Hall
Kendal
Cumbria



Skelsmergh Hall lays just off the A6 about two miles North of Kendal.

The tower was built in the early 15th century (exact date unknown) but the site was of importance to the de Leyburne family from the early part of the 13th century after the land was granted to Robert de Leyburne by the Barons of Kendal, probably William de Lancaster. William was Baron of Kendal from 1220 to 1246, so the land was granted sometime in this 26 year period. The tower remained in the de Leyburne family for the next four hundred years. Their principle residence however was at Cunswick Hall near Kendal, another hall with a pele tower and gatehouse. This tower was, however, demolished at some point, with only the gatehouse now remaining. During Elizabeth I's reign, the manor of Skelsmergh was sold to the Bellinghams of Levens and the Braithwaites of Burneshead (Burneside) The tower however was retained.

The tower is around 40 by 23 feet, and stands complete to three storeys over a vaulted cellar. The walls in most places are around 1.5 metres thick, although they are only around 1.2 metres thick just above the ceiling of the cellar. The tower is thought to have been more comfortable and luxurious than other towers in the area, perhaps indicating that it was built as a symbol of power and wealth rather than a purely defensive structure.

The vaulted cellar was used until quite recently as a dairy, and is still intact. The other three rooms in the tower are all connected by a circular stone staircase in south east corner. The third storey however, is now no more, with only a few beams marking where it would have been.

Around the middle of the 16th century, a two storey block was added to the South corner of the tower, with further additions being built in 1629.

Prior to the tower being built, a chapel dedicated to St John the Baptist was situated behind the present farm. A stream ran through the chapel, fed by a spring, again dedicated to St John the Baptist. A wooden floor was laid over the running water. Nothing now remains of the chapel or the accompanying cemetery.

The Leyburne family held the hall until 1715, when it passed to the Crown as a forfeit when John de Leyburne backed the cause of the Earl of Derwentwater during the Jacobite rebellion. The tower was sold to Thomas Crowle, a lawyer from Hull, who later sold it to Daniel Wilson of Dallam Tower.

These days the tower is privately owned, but is viewable from the main road and also in the cul-de-sac down which it stands. It retains many of the original windows, but is now without its parapets.

Drinking fountain, Abbot Hall Park, Kendal

John F Curwen drinking fountain

Abbot Hall Park

Kendal

Cumbria

The drinking fountain in Abbot Hall Park (now dis-used) was designed by renowned local historian John F Curwen in 1889.

It is 9 feet tall with celtic designs covering all four faces.

John Cooper Memorial, Kendal

John Cooper memorial
Parish Church yard
Kendal
Cumbria

The John Cooper memorial is a large celtic style cross standing in the yard of the Parish Church in Kirkland\Kendal. Erected in 1898, it is a memorial to the vicar John Cooper, who was vicar of Kendal for 38 years, until his death in 1896 .

The cross is 10 feet tall and is made from sandstone.

Blind Beck House, Kendal

Blind Beck House
Kirkland\Highgate
Kendal
Cumbria

Blind Beck House is situated on the West side of Hightgate, and backs onto Blind Beck, the boundary between Kendal and Kirkland. The house was built in the late 18th century as the town house for Christopher Wilson (his initials appear on a rain spout) There was however, a house on this site before this, owned by Thomas Wilson, a woolstapler and hosier, who lived in the original Blindbeck house until his death in 1757. His huge estate was passed to his son Christopher, who later had Blindbeck house rebuilt and modernised.

Chrispher Wilson built his business empire on the back of his father's earlier successes. His hosiery business was a nation wide success, and he had a part share in a ship exporting goods to America. He also had his hand in the production of gunpowder in Sizergh, in the selling of linseys (a coarse woven frabric of wool and cotton using flax grown locally) caps, gloves, flannel, baize, silk, yarn, dyes, soap, oil, looms, stirrups, fish hooks, chease, hams, char (fish), rum and port. Christopher Wilson ran the business with one other person, who was responsible for taking orders and delivering them, and taking the necessary payments. He did a lot of business with customers in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham. Wilson's company did not own any factories, merely purchasing goods ready made, and selling them on. He also sold goods to customers in Bremen, Amsterdam and Hamburg, and records show that between 1768 and 1780, he sold £72700 worth of hosiery to over 80 customers.

After rebuilding Blindbeck house, Wilson became a partner in one of Kendal's first and most famous banks, that of Maude, Wilson and Crewdson. He was also a trustee of the Kendal Fell Trust. His star continued to rise in 1798\99 when he became mayor of Kendal.

The house was used as a convent in the 19th century, and a nightclub (Queens Nightclub) up until the early 1990's. From 1995 onwards it was converted into flats, and remains a landmark building where the two parts of Kendal meet.

39 - 45 Branthwaite Brow, Kendal

39 -45 Branthwaite Brow
Kendal
Cumbria

Branthwaite Brow is a steep, narrow and cobbled throughfare, connecting the market place with the bottom of Finkle Street. It is a short street, containing the George and Dragon inn, the Chocolate House, two jewellers and the Unitarian Chapel. On the South side of the brow, there is a row of buildings with a strange external wall. These buildings today house a picture shop, a jewellers and a sandwich shop. The walls are made from cast iron plates, and were designed to take up as little room as possible in the newly widened street.

In 1850, the local Health Board decreed that Branthwaite Lane (as it was then called) should be widened, as there was an increased amount of traffic using this street between the canal and the centre of town. Traffic travelled over Miller Bridge from the Canal works, up Kent street, across the bottom of Finkle Street, and through Branthwaite Lane into the Market Place. For this reason, it was deemed necessary to widen the street by 24 feet, and property was purchased on the South and the East side to be demolished or partially demolished to allow these changes. A row of houses on the West side of street was totally demolished, whilst the other properties had the fronts removed.

The buildings now on the West side of Branthwaite Brow were built, and to save space, cast iron plates were used instead of bricks to front the properties. These plates were cast by a local iron founder called John Winder.

This iron plating method of fronting buildings, was first used by Sir Joseph Paxton in the building of the Crystal Palace. The palace was destroyed by a fire in 1936, and there is some speculation that these buildings are now the only ones in Britain still using this type of building technique. The plaque on the wall shows two dates....1851, and 1853. 1851 relates to the widening of Branthwaite Brow, and 1853 relates to the date the plates were used in the building of the shops.

Finkle Street Fire Station, Kendal

Fire Station
Finkle Street
Kendal
Cumbria

Half way down Finkle Street and on the North side of the street, a small cafe can be found, with two large arched windows. This building was the fire station, opened in 1838, and the base for three hand pumped fire engines.

The building was orignally called Fire Engine House, and is part of the same building that used to house the police station.

Millom Castle, Cumbria

Millom Castle
Millom
Cumbria

Millom Castle stands on the South side of the A5093 about a mile to the North of Millom in Cumbria. To the rear of the castle remains, stands the 12th century church of the Holy Trinity.

Holy Trinity church with the pele tower to the right.

The castle is thought to be one of a chain of fortified buildings running from Muncaster to Irton, Piel and to Gleaston.

The main entrance to the castle is up a set of undated steps leading to a ruined gatehouse or tower. The date of the gatehouse or tower is not known, although it is sandwiched between curtain walls dating from the 14th century to the left, and rebuilt but now ruined walls of the old kitchen…again with no available dating.

Undated staircase leading to Gatehouse\tower.

The gatehouse\tower entrance takes you into a small open courtyard. To the left of this courtyard, are the remains of the Undercroft and the Great Chamber, with external walls dating from the 14th century. The walls here are around 5 feet thick in places. The doorway into the Undercroft\Great Chamber is still the original, with its weathered sandstone archway still intact. The Undercroft\Great Chamber itself is pretty intact on all sides, with most of the windows in situ, although some are now bricked up.

Inside the Undercroft\Great Chamber.

To the right of the courtyard, and directly opposite the Undercroft\Great Chamber, is the kitchen. This building, although now a ruin, has been rebuilt at some stage during the past, and most of the four walls are still standing with many windows intact and complete with sandstone surrounds. The hearth and the oven, in the North wall, are still visible.

Internal wall of the rebuilt kitchen.

The Hall lays through a small internal gateway beyond the Kitchen, and has surviving external walls from the 14th century, with reconstructed walls to the West, and is further bordered to the left (South) by the pele tower.

Inside the Hall with the kitchen in view.

The whole of the remains of the castle seem to lack any sort of stairway remains to the upper floors of the castle. This could suggest that access to the other floors was via wooden staircases, possibly through trap doors in the floors above.

The Pele tower, now ensconced within the surviving walls to the North, South and East, is peculiar in that there are few castles with pele towers built within their confines in the South Cumbria area. Most pele towers were built first, and incorporated into the later castle buildings, not the other way round. The pele tower is around 50 feet square, and in places has walls 7 feet thick. This is now the only inhabited part of the castle. The square building consists of a basement of two vaults, four floors and a roof that would once have been embattled. The second floor of the pele tower once held the court of Millom.

Portion of surviving 14th century curtain wall.

The whole site would once have been surrounded by a moat, or a dyke, which John de Hudleston was granted permission to build in 1335. There are further earthworks and traces of buildings to the South East of the church, some of which may have been connected to the castle, and some of which may be from a much earlier date.

The motte on which the castle stands probably dates from the same period as the remains of ditches to the South and the East of the castle. These may have been built by Godard de Boyville when he was granted the manor in 1134. Around 1240, the manor passed to the de Hudlstons, with license to crenellate the manor house at ‘Millum’ being granted by Edward III in 1335. It’s from this period that walls of around 5 to 7 feet remain in many parts of the castle. The tower house, or pele, was built either as a result of the severe damage inflicted by Lancastrian forces in around 1460 during the Wars of the Roses, or as a separate dwelling by Ferdinand de Hudleston when he obtained his license to crenellate his tower in 1522. The pele occupies the South West corner of the castle, a space that would once probably have been a small central courtyard area of the original buildings. The West and South portions of the curtain wall would probably have been removed at this point. The castle was captured and slighted by Parliamentary forces in 1644, with subsequent repairs being made in the 1670’s. A print dated 1739, shows the site occupied, but in disrepair.

Today the castle is part of a working farm, and as such is a privately owned site.