Castlestede Iron Age fort, Kendal

Castlestede Iron Age fort

Kendal

Cumbria

The remains of this multivallate hillfort (a fort with more than one bank and\or ditch) lay 185metres above sea level at the summit of the Helm, 2 miles South of Kendal, and a short walk from the A65.

The hillfort lays at the South end of the Helm, and is easily accessable by foot from the road below it. The remains probably represent an Iron Age hillfort, with the Northern end of the site protected by two ramparts. These have been created by cutting a ditch into the rock across the line of the ridge. To the East of the field wall that bisects the fort, a rough outer ditch can still be seen.

Within the inner ramparts, another small rampart can just be seen. This could represent the footings or foundations of a wall.

The inner rampart carries right along the Western side of the enclosure, although here there is no ditch. This side of the fort is protected by the naturally occuring cliff.

The Eastern side of the fort has lost its ditch, possibly through erosion and soil slippage. However, this side of the fort is still fairly steep, so a ditch may not have been necessary.

At the South end of the fort, a single rampart with a wide top defends the summit. From here, the ground slopes downwards steeply, however an oval shaped platuea seems to have been cut into the hill side.

To the South and the North of the fort, and outside of the ramparts, small basins have been found cut into the rock. It has been suggested that these were created to collect rain water. The nearest source being Saint Sunday's beck down in the valley below.

The fort is easilly accessable by following the footpath which runs parallel to the wall across the back of the Helm. However, the descent at the other side is very steep and has to be treated cautiously.

Ravenstonedale moated site, Ravenstondale

Moated site
Ravenstonedale
Cumbria

The earthworks at Ravenstonedale are situated North of the village and just south of the A685. The site consists of a range of banks and ditches, and may represent the remains of a medieval moated manor. The Southern extremes of the site have undoubtedly been buried beneathe the houses here, whilst the Northern extremes of the site have undoubtedly vanished beneath the bank upon which the A685 now runs.

The site is very large, covering all of the fields between the houses and the road, with an estimated width of around 120 feet and a total overall length of around 180 feet. The ditches and embankments are very well defined, some of them up to 4 feet deep in places.

The remains are described as a moated site, or a motte with a gate, by Pastscape, and may represent the remains of a manor dating from before 1150. Philip Davis of the Gatehouse website labels this site as a 'questionable' fortification.....but whatever the history connected with these remains, they represent something fairly major.

This close up of the earthworks clearly demonstrates the quality of the remains.

Of course...there is always the possability that these remains represent nothing more than the remains of a medieval garden that was built in the area. Whatever it's history, the remains are worth seeing.

New photos of Kendal Castle

Photos of Kendal Castle,
Kendal
Cumbria

Some new and old photos of Kendal Castle.

The remains of the Great Hall.

Remains of the gatehouse and the Great Hall.

The Great Hall looking across the courtyard.

The North West tower.

The North West tower from inside the moat.

The Great Hall from the curtain wall.

The moat and the remains of a drum tower.

Remains of a round tower, the South postern and the minimal remains of the original keep.

The castle walls as they appear from the Parr street approach.

The North West tower in the snow.

North West tower from the moat.

Kendal Castle from Park Side Road at night.