Caerlaverock Castle, Near Dumfries

Caerlaverock Castle
Near Dumfries
Dumfries and Galloway
Scotland

Caerlaverock is one of the three Royal castles of Dumfries and Galloway (the others being Threave and Kirkcudbright Castle Dykes) and lays about 12 miles South of Dumfries. From the centre of Dumfries, the B725 takes you along the banks of the River Nith, until it flows into Blackshaw Bank in the Solway Firth. It is at this point, that the Scottish coast is a mere twelve or so miles from the North Cumbrian coast. I would suggest walking around the bank that tops the moat firstly, as this will enable you to get a good look at the gatehouse, the surviving Western tower, the curtain wall and best of all, where the Southern portion of curtain wall has been destroyed, an almost sneak preview of the courtyard and its impressively decorated Nithsdale Lodgings.

Caerlaverock is one of those castles that is instantly recognisable, with its twin towered gatehouse and triangular form, set in a wide water filled moat and surrounded by earthworks, ditches and embankments, and only a few hundred yards from the sea. This castle was built, no doubt, to replace the smaller castle set back in the trees, and was probably erected by Aylmer Maxwell in the 1260’s. In 1300, the castle was besieged and eventually captured by Edward I of England. The siege involved around 3000 English troops and 87 knights, and included the use of several siege engines (examples of which have been reconstructed nearby). The castle’s occupants withheld the siege for a while until they decided to surrender the castle to the English. It must have been a surprise to see only 60 men walk out of the castle!! The English held the castle until 1312, when its keeper, Sir Eustace Maxwell decided his loyalties would be better off laid at the feet of Robert the Bruce. The English tried to retake the castle again, but this time failed. King Robert had the castle virtually dismantled to prevent it falling into English hands again (as he had done elsewhere in Scotland). Hence….what we see today at Caerlaverock, dates mainly from a rebuild of the 1330’s. The only original parts are the foundations of the whole castle, most of the West curtain wall, the South West corner tower and the Western tower of the massive gatehouse.

The castle was besieged once more by the English in 1544, and again in 1570. During the 1630’s, Robert Maxwell, the 1st Earl of Nithsdale converted Caerlaverock into a high status home, building the Nithsdale Lodgings against the Eastern curtain wall, and introducing much of the fine decorative stone work that can still be seen today.

During the Civil war of the 1600’s, the Maxwells sided with King Charles I, and subsequently came up against the Scottish Covenanter’s army in 1640. The castle was besieged for a total of thirteen weeks before it was finally surrendered. The results of the siege, and the Covenanter’s ransacking of the castle can still be seen today, the Southern curtain wall was demolished, and the South Eastern tower was reduced to chest height.…none of the damage has ever been repaired. The castle was already popular with visitors to the area by the end of the 18th century, when the Duke of Norfolk handed it to the Ministry of Works, its future seemed secured. Today, Caerlaverock Castle is managed by Historic Scotland.

A view of the castle looking towards the now demolished curtain wall at the Southern end of the castle. The South Western tower is still intact, and does not contain any fire places...suggesting that this structure was built purely as a military tower. The corbels visible at the top, would suggest that a wooden structure would have been mounted here. The footings of the demolished South Eastern tower can be seen to the right of this photo.

The above photo shows the Western wall of the castle. Most of these structures, including the tower of the gatehouse (at the left of the photo) and the South Western tower (at the right of the photo) are original, and probably all date from 13th century.

The Nithsdale Lodgings are shown in the photo above, complete with piper and rather bored looking dancer (there was a wedding at the castle the day we visited) The lodges were built in 1634 by Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Nithsdale, and would have provided accommodation to replace the suites in the gatehouse.

A view of the complete South Western tower from the site of the demolished South Eastern tower. Apparently there are otters in the moat....my wife thinks she may have seen one....and not a glass of wine in sight!!!

An excellent view of the castle from the South....clearly showing the standing tower, the Nithsdale Lodgings and the footings of the demolished curtain wall.

Another view of the South Western tower.....and below...a photo of all that remains of the South Eastern tower.

I would highly recommend visiting this castle. It's a bit of a drive out of Dumfries, but once you're there, it's stunning location makes for a good few hours of exploring....and don't forget to visit the old castle!

Check out Simon Ledingham's aerial photos of the castle:

Photo 1.

Photo 2.

Caerlaverock Old Castle, South of Dumfries

Caerlaverock Old Castle
South of Dumfries
Dumfries and Galloway
Scotland

Caerlaverock is one of those great sites that not only offers you a beautiful medieval castle, in the most dramatic settings you could imagine, but also springs a surprise on you….a second castle, hidden a few hundred yards away, whose remains represent the original fortress built here.

The old castle can be found to the South East of its larger cousin, hidden in the wooded walks that lay behind the main castle. The remains have been excavated, consolidated and labelled so it is easy to see what you’re looking at.

It is thought that this castle was built some time between around 1225 and 1250, by John Maxwell, and consists of several periods of building, ending with its abandonment in (probably) the late 1250’s. The castle’s footprint is somewhat irregular, with four corner towers which would originally have measured around six metres square, a ‘lozenge’ shaped courtyard measuring some twenty five metres by twenty five metres, a large hall in the west end of the courtyard and a gatehouse facing North.

The footings, excavated and consolidated stand at ground level, and it’s almost like walking around a diagram, a floor plan of a building. The wooden footbridge passes over the single but wide ditch, slightly to the left of the footings of the gatehouse. The site of the walls and the towers are plain to see, as are the hall and a range of buildings set against the Southern part of the castle’s wall.

Before the castle was excavated (in 1998) all that could be seen of the remains, was a grassy knoll lying in the center of a well defined moat. Over time, as the top soil was removed, the castle's curtain wall, inner buildings and corner towers were gradually uncovered, as well as a small harbour to the South West closer to the Solway Firth.

I can’t find much more information on this castle, the reasons it was abandoned for example…but as I find more information, I’ll include it here.

Airthrey Castle, Near Stirling

Airthrey Castle
Near Stirling
Scotland

A bit of a 'faux' castle really, but as its such a beautiful building, and in a fantastic stretch of Scottish countryside, I'd say it earns its place on this blog. Situated about three and a half miles North East of the city of Stirling, just off the A91 to Bridge of Allan, the castle sits in a vast estate consisting of open grass lands and a man made loch (around which now stand, buildings belonging to the University of Stirling)

The name, "Airthrey" is thought to originate from two possible sources: firstly, Ard-rhedadie, meaning 'a high road' and possibly relating to the old road leading to Sherrifmuir nearby, and secondly, Airthrin, meaning a 'sharp point' or 'conflict', and possibly relating to a battle fought on or near the site of the present day castle in 839, when Kenneth McAlpine (King of the Scots) defeated the Picts. The estate surrounding the present day castle, are mentioned in Royal documents as far back as 1146, when the lands belonged to the keeper of Stirling Castle, Sir John Herice. The lands are then documented as passing to William, 3rd Lord Graham of Kincardine in 1488, given to him as a reward for bravery demonstrated on the battle field at the battle of Sauchieburn (during which King James III was killed) The estates stayed in the Graham Clan's hands, until they were sold in 1678, to John Hope of Hopetoun. From John Hope, the lands then passed to Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun. By 1759, the estate had once again been sold, this time to Captain Robert Haldane of Plean (a small village just outside of Stirling) Captain Haldane commissioned Thomas White to design the 360 acre grounds and the man made loch, and subsequently, Robert Haldane his son, commissioned Robert Adam to design and build the castle in 1791. The castle was built, and then promptly sold in 1798 to Robert Abercrombie.

The Abercrombie family held the castle until 1889, at which time, Donald Graham purchased it. He made some changes to the building, and added some large additions to its fabric. During the Second World War, the castle was used as a maternity hospital, with this function being continued right up until the 1960's. At this stage, the castle and its grounds were earmarked as the first brand new Scottish University since Edinburgh University (1582) In 1967, the University of Stirling was opened, and the School of Law based in the castle. The castle is said to have retained many of its original late 18th century features, despite a serious fire in 2000.

Dockwray Hall, Kendal

Dockwray Hall (site of)
Kendal
Cumbria

This has been a difficult site to pin-point with any precision...so this choice of location is an "educated-guess", but I think it's pretty accurate. Dockray (Dockwray) Hall was the site of a fortified tower with an attached chapel dedicated to St Anne. The tower and the chapel appear on most old maps, up until around 1938...the most recent map I could find with any mention of the buildings. Even then, the tower and the chapel were no more, and the site is labelled as "Dockray Hall Barn , on the site of Dockray Hall". It would appear that elements of either the chapel or the tower, or both structures were incorporated into a barn (a house in some records) that was still extant in the 19th century. The chapel was still standing in the 16th century when Machel was travelling the area cataloguing the fortifications of the region. It would appear that the tower and the chapel had an encircling wall. Whether this would have constituted a curtain wall or a simpler barmkyn, is not known....but on John Speed's map of Kendal, dated 1610, Dockray Hall can be seen at the top left hand corner within a square compound, possibly a wall.

Above. Detail from John Speed's map of Kendal, showing the Dockray Hall compound.

This appears to be the only representation of the compound that we have. No contemporary paintings, sketches etc exist of the chapel and the hall.

Above. Modern map (1930s?) showing location of Dockwray Hall Barn.

Above. Sparrow Mire Lane from Burneside Road.

The site, shown above, is at the modern day junction of Burneside Road and Elm Court. This area is raised above land to the East, and lays about 400 yards to the West of the River Kent. Originally, as shown on maps up to 1938, the area was open fields. A map dated 1898, shows hardly any buildings to the North with the buildings of Union and Cross Street the nearest structures to the South. These days, there are houses to the North, South, East and West....with just a small section of wooded area showing where the tower and chapel may once have stood.

There is a connection between Dockray Hall in Kendal, and Borwick Hall near Lancaster....both fortified residences, and both the homes of wealthy local land owners. Borwick Hall was the home of Sir Robert Bindloss (died 1629). Sir Robert married Alice, daughter of one Lancelot Dockray, owner of Dockray Hall.

There is also mention in local historical documentation, of the Phillipson family, who also held Hesfell Hall in Kendal, and Hollin Hall near Crook. The family were staunchly Royalist, and it's therefore likely that, at the same time they lost Helsfell Hall to the Parliamentarian authorities, Dockray Hall was forfeited by them. It's likely that what was saleable was sold off, and the remains demolished, except the chapel which was then converted to a house. There are now no remains of any of the buildings, including the barn.

Coupland earthworks

Coupland Bridge earthworks
Coupland
Nr Appleby
Cumbria

These earthworks, hidden from view from the nearby A66, were overgrown and difficult to make out with their covering of gorse bushes and the surrounding high hedges. The remains can be found in a field just off the A66, about two miles South of Appleby, on the banks of Hilton Beck where it converges with George Gill to form Coupland Beck.

From aerial photos, the earthworks appear to be square shaped, although inspection from the ground shows them to be nearly circular in shape, about four feet high, with a slightly dished interior, dipping to around one foot below the rim. Various internet sources mention a cross wall, or masonry...although when I visited, only a few stones were visible on the Northern edges of the earthworks.

If, as some sources say, this site represents the remains of a ring-work....it would have been a very small ring work indeed. I think these references are in fact related to another earthwork about a quarter of mile to the East. The earthworks are perhaps only 40 feet by 40 feet, the interior of which is tiny...and would only have been able to house a small building or a small number of people. As a defensive site, it is overlooked from the North by higher ground, but has clear line of sight over the beck to the East, and lower ground to the West and the South. Indeed, the West side of the earthworks drop away very steeply to the road some seven or eight feet below.

The above photos shows the fence that separates the earthworks from the steep drop to the road beyond. There don't appear to be any infilled ditches around the site, and no further banks or earthen ramparts anywhere else on the site. There are high banks running along side the banks of Hilton Beck to the East...perhaps indicating an attempt to shore up the banks from erosion, perhaps the remains of an attempt to prevent any incursion across the very shallow beck.

One interesting fact about this field though, is that the ordnance survey map shows the course of the old Roman road running North South through this field. If the route marked on the map is to be trusted, the old Roman road would have run just a few feet from the Eastern exterior of these earthworks....indeed, the profile of the field shows a distinct mound of earth (an agger) running the full North South length of it, clearly indicating where the road would have run. There is a slight depression between the Roman road and the earthworks. An 1863 map of Westmorland, clearly shows the earthworks next to the route of the Roman Road, and they are labelled as a Roman Fortress, so it's looking more and more unlikely that these remains represent a motte and bailey castle or medieval ring work.

Shap Abbey, Shap

Shap Abbey
Shap
Cumbria

The Abbey at Shap, situated on the Western banks of the River Lowther, would have been a prosperous abbey in its heyday, and as such would most likely have had light security to safeguard its occupants and its finances and possessions. The abbey is known to have had a precinct wall, encircling the entire complex of buildings, but this has long since gone. Whether this would have been as spectacular and solid as the one that Sweatheart Abbey (Dumfries and Galloway) possessed, and which still stands in some sections, is unknown. (Check this link out.)

It's also known that the abbey would have had a gatehouse, situated on the grass track, probably on the right hand side of the wall, roughly opposite the sheep feeder in the next field (see above photo). As with any gatehouse or symbol of strength, this was most likely one of the first buildings to be removed, and consequently there is now no trace of this structure.

The huge 15th century tower, the most prominent remains of the abbey complex, sits at the West end of what was the nave. This huge tower, some 50 feet tall, has a huge draw bar tunnel in both of the door jambs. Only the lower portions of these jambs now remain, but the tunnels can still be seen. The tunnel in the left door, is now only about 4 inches deep, whilst the tunnel in the right hand jamb, is about 10 inches deep. They are about 8 inches square, so would have housed a sturdy draw bar. Both are lined with slate, and would undoubtedly have been much deeper when the whole of the retaining wall and the jambs were in place. The wall here is about 5 feet thick, so the occupants would have been able to make this entrance very secure.

Another entrance, separating the nave from the Cloister (and hence the main living and storage areas of the abbey) also has a solid draw bar tunnel set within the depths of the wall. The tunnel is visible on both door jambs, and is around 5 inches square. The left hand tunnel is about 6 inches deep, whilst the right hand tunnel is badly damaged, and now only a few inches deep.

It's not possible to tell what sort of security would have been in existence on the buildings on the South West corner of the complex, as these have now been built over. This would have been an exposed section of the perimeter of the abbey precincts. The River Lowther would have provided an adequate boundary on the West flanks of the abbey, with the precinct wall running along the North, the West (incorporating the gatehouse) and possibly the now vanished Southern section. High up on the fells to the West of the abbey two dykes are still in existence. One runs roughly North to South, and is about 900 yards long, and a second runs West to North East, probably running behind the present farm buildings and almost down to the River Lowther. These may just be boundary dykes. As soon as they've been photographed, they'll appear on the blog.

Kemp Howe Stone Circle, Shap

Kemp Howe Stone Circle
Shap
Cumbria

The remains of this stone circle can be found about half a mile South of Shap, on the Western side of the railway embankment. The stones can just be seen from the road....but there isn't any parking nearby. I would recommend parking back in Shap, and taking a walk to the field that these immense pink granite boulders now lie in.

There are 6 large stones still remaining, with a number of smaller stones between the larger ones. Only half of the circle now remains, with local tradition stating that the others still lay in their original positions under the railway embankment.

It appears that this stone circle was part of a much larger collection of circles, standing stones and avenues, some of which still survive today, hidden away in the corners of fields and gardens. Kemp Howe is variously known as Heppeshaw, Shapshaw and Shapsey.

Check this website out. It has a huge amount of information on the stone circle, and the other circles and standing stones in the local area.

Borrowdale Dykes, Nr Kendal

Borrowdale Dykes
Borrowdale
Nr Kendal
Cumbria

Borrowdale is an area of outstanding beauty, situated some 6 miles North of Kendal, and only a few miles South of Shap summit on the A6. Whilst the area is well known for its walks, especially along Breasthigh Road which runs from the Eastern side of the A6, across the Western flanks of Borrowdale Common, and then on toward Bretherdale Head, there is also historical documentation stating that a plessicium, or slashed hedge was cultivated and maintained somewhere in this area. This barrier is reputed to have been created to slow down or prevent the Scots from moving South from Shap summit, in a grant dated 1180.

The wording is as follows "Grant by William de Lancaster II to the monks of St. Mary at Byland, of his part of Borgheredala (Borrowdale) by the great way which goes by Ernestan (Eagle-stone) to the plessicium which has been made on account of the Scots; and by the brow of the hill of Bannisdale, which is towards Borrowdale, as long as Bannisdale continues, and so to Borrowdale Head and so to the bounds of Westmorland, in perpetual alms, and for the settlement of the complaint which Wimund, late Bishop of the Isles, had against the father of the grantor."

A view of Borrowdale looking North.

The exact location of this rural defence has not been accurately pinpointed, though the old road that runs across Borrowdale Common would certainly have been a well used road in its day...before the A6 was constructed to its West. Any body of men that had climbed Shap summit to the North, would be looking for an easy track across both Shap Fells and Birkbeck Fells, and this road, rough as it would most likely have been, would have presented any traveller with an easier route over the boggy high ground, especially if there were men on horse back and wagons with supplies.

Above. Looking East towards North Side.

The road, now only used by walkers and hardy bikers, can be seen winding its way up the fell in the centre of the above photo. Parts of this road appear to have the remains of a low rampart or earthen bank, possibly all that is now left of the hedge that may have topped it at some point. This barrier would surely only have provided anyone moving South with a minor obstruction, and would most certainly have been without any fortifications along its route. It's also possible that the dyke may have been situated about half a mile South, where the valley narrows. This point, called Hollowgate would be much easier to build a barrier across. Perhaps the name is indicative of some early medieval 'checkpoint'....and the same could also be asked of Watchgate, about 3 miles further South. During the 16th century, the Scottish and English wardens of the border regions, instructed land owners on both sides of the border, to cultivate hedges of crab-apple, hawthorn and other thick growing and thorny bushes and trees, to dissuade reivers from raiding across the border and herding cattle, sheep and horses. It is thought that some of these hedges survive today and continue to show where certain land owners estates begin and end.

Helmsley Castle, Helmsley

Helmsley Castle
Helmsley
North Yorkshire

The small market town of Helmsley lays about 10 miles West of Pickering on the A170. This road makes a peculiar Southerly route through the village after travelling West from Pickering. As you pass through the village the remains of the castle can just be made out over the roof tops.

Built by Walter Espec in the early 1100’s, the castle is today represented by a wide range of surviving earthworks, masonry and upstanding walls and buildings. The most spectacular and recognisable of which has to be the half destroyed keep.

Above. Looking South across the remains of the old gatehouse, into the courtyard.

A good place to start when exploring these remains, are the remains of the Northern gatehouse and barbican. Today a wooden bridge spans the double ditch, taking you to the D shaped remains of the gatehouse….now standing to around two feet in height. This structure would have been protected on the outer earthen bank by a 13th century barbican…further protection for this, the original entry into the inner court of the castle. The gatehouse probably dates from the early 1200’s, as does most of the outer stonework of the castle, ie, curtain walls (excepting the Southern defences including the 14th and 16th century gatehouse here) The ditch here is around 30 feet deep, and is a similar depth for its complete circuit of the castle…well preserved and intact.

Once over the modern bridge, the whole of the inner court is laid out before you. To the left, the keep can be seen (more about this faux keep later) the scrap of the 13th century chapel, numerous low footings of buildings, and to the right, the West range and the de Brus tower, along with the remains of the Hall and various towers.

Above. Looking North East towards the ruined keep.

The keep is a monumental structure, still standing to around 5 storeys tall. I say half, as only half of this towering building now stands on the edge of the moat. The outer walls of the ‘keep’ were destroyed along with most of the upper levels of the curtain walls on the orders of Oliver Cromwell’s government, after the castle was surrendered to Sir Thomas Fairfax in November 1644 after a three month siege.

Above. Looking North across the courtyard towards the keep.

This left only the inner shell of the building remaining. What is known, is that this building was in fact not the keep, but a tall chapel with an apsed (oval) projection out over the first defensive ditch.

Above. Looking into the ruined shell of the keep.

This chapel formed the core of the castle built in the early 1200’s, and can be entered from the inner court. Looking up at the now empty shell, its immense size can truly be appreciated.

Above. Looking through the South Eastern, and more recent, gatehouse.

Moving South from the ‘keep’ the Southern gatehouse still survives to a height of around 20 feet. These immensely thick walls are part of the original castle from the early 1200’s, and lead onto the 14th and 16th century gatehouse that extends across the double ditches.

Above. The portcullis grooves in the South Eastern gatehouse.

The outer gatehouse, or barbican, still retains its portcullis grooves, indications of the defences employed here. There are the intact remains of two D-shaped towers on either side, with standing portions of curtain wall, and then two more towers, one extending over the first ditch, and the other following the line of the curtain wall.

Above. A view of the buildings on the South Western side of the castle.

This latter tower would have provided defensive line of sight down the Western curtain wall, and out over the Southern portions of the outer court. Here the rocky outcrop that the castle is built upon, can be seen beneath the curtain wall, indicating the strength of the site up on which the castle was built.

Above. View of the faux keep from the South, showing the amount of damage done upon Cromwell's orders.

Above. The original solar tower on the South West side of the castle.

The building to the West of the inner court, consists of the castle’s original keep…the much altered early 1200’s solar tower. This tower was largely re-built on its Southern and Western walls during the early 1300’s. Whereas originally it would have been a stocky, probably almost windowless tower, sufficient as a last place refuge, it became, over the years, a lofty and comfortable tower, sporting a number of windows (including at ground level) suitable for accommodating important residents and guests alike. This tower lacks its roof, but is accessible. It sports an impressive pair of draw bar slots in the entrance wall, and clear indications of the comfort employed for those living in the castle. There are a multitude of fireplaces and indications that the tower had at least four floors. The whole of this castle will take you a good hour at the very least, to walk around...there are simply loads of remains here. I'll follow this up with a history at some point, which will give me the opportunity to add a few more photos.

Beacon Hill siege castle, Pickering

Beacon Hill siege castle
Pickering
North Yorkshire

It is suggested by some historians that this low scarped mound, some 500 yards to the West of Pickering castle, is in fact a siege castle, not a ‘motte’ as marked on the Ordnance Survey map. Visible from the Southern Gatehouse of Pickering castle, and also from the summit of Pickering Castle’s 20 metre high motte, the earthworks are visible as a flat topped mound, half covered with trees, topped with a bank, and encircled by a ditch and a low outer embankment.

The summit is around 3 metres by 25 metres, and was occupied from the late 1930’s to 1991, by a Royal Observer Corps post (much like Sedbergh’s Castle Haugh) Consequently, it was damaged by its military occupation and use.

It has been suggested that the siege castle was raised to threaten Pickering Castle during the Anarchy (1135 to 1154) a 19 year period of unrest throughout England, however no documentary evidence has been found that supports this theory. It’s therefore more likely, that it was built to threaten the castle during the period, 1216, 1217, during the first few years of Henry III’s reign. The damage done at this time to Pickering castle, necessitated the spending of several hundreds of pounds on the rebuilding and repair of the castle's fabric. You'll need to click on these photos to see them full screen, so that you can identify the siege castle on the horizon!

Pickering Castle, Pickering

Pickering Castle
Pickering
North Yorkshire

The castle at Pickering in North Yorkshire, lays on the junction of the A169 and the A170, about 20 miles West of Scarborough. The significant remains can be found at the end of Herisson Close, a residential street at the centre of Pickering, and on the banks of Pickering Beck which runs to the West of the castle. There is a significant amount of both masonry and earthwork remains here, including curtain wall, towers, a huge impressively preserved earthen motte, and a large quantity of masonry footings and low walls. Entrance is via the Southern gatehouse, straight onto the Outer Ward which stretches to the ditch in front of you, and to your right, all the way around to the wall that separates the inner and outer wards across the deep ditch. To the left, and below the level of the Southern gatehouse, the Mill Tower still stands fairly intact. It is joined to the gatehouse by a low section of curtain wall, which has probably been reduced in height at some time. The remains of the gatehouse are also joined to the Diate Hill Tower to the East of the castle, by curtain wall, here surviving to a greater height. This portion of higher wall continues right around to Rosamund’s Tower in the North Eastern section of the castle. Immediately in front of you, the ruined shell of the Colemen Tower can be seen, with a thick wall with wall-walk climbing the steep sided motte to the summit where the King’s Tower would once have been. The motte is indeed the most impressive structure in the whole of the castle (in my opinion) Steep sided, intact and well preserved, it serves as an apt centre piece to this impressive castle. You are free to explore the whole of the castle and its attendant buildings…nothing is closed off.

View of the Coleman Tower with wall-walk to the summit of the motte.

The Coleman Tower straddles the Outer and Inner Wards, and would have served as a defence against intruders trying to make it into the inner sanctum of the castle. It was built around the end of the 12th century. The tower is a squat, square building, and in 1323 records show that it was being used as a prison. The tower was remodelled after this time, and a parapet was built onto the top floor. The Coleman tower would have originally butted onto the Grayss Chamber…another fortified building that would have held sway over the drawbridge across the deep ditch separating Outer and Inner Wards.

A view of Rosamund's Tower from the Outer Ward, showing the attached curtain wall.

Rosamund’s Tower, at the far North Eastern part of the castle, protected the curtain wall where it met the Inner and Outer Wards….with line of site into both parts of the castle’s grounds. The upper portion of the tower was probably built for accommodation, with a room for lowering and raising the drawbridge from the postern in the lower floor of the tower. A nearby turret would have given defenders good line of site over anyone looking at breaching the postern. The outer door, leading into the Outer Ward has a set of impressively deep draw bar slots for securing the doors. The postern can be accessed from the walk that now encircles the castle.

A good view of the motte, with the remains of the Coleman Tower to the left. Rosamund's Tower can just be seen to the right behind the trees.

The motte would have formed the centre of the original timber based castle built by William I (Conqueror) in 1069-1070. A deep ditch, some 5 metres deep surrounds its base, with the motte standing some 20 metres tall. It’s base measures around 60 metres in circumference, and is complete and in good condition. The steep sides seem to have withstood the test of time with no slippage or damage visible. The top of the motte would have housed the King’s Tower, first timber built, and then rebuilt in stone, possibly between 1180 and 1236. The remains of a few portions of this tower still survive.

Above. The gatehouse from within the castle courtyard.

The gatehouse, in the Southern wall of the Outer Ward, has been virtually demolished. All that remains is the external brickwork minus most of the building beyond the curtain wall. A double door would have been hung from the jambs here, with a draw bridge over the shallow ditch. The archway that the double doors occupied can be seen when looking back at the gatehouse from the Outer Ward, now bricked up and only just visible. Some timbers are also embedded within the stonework, probably from later building periods. A barbican would have extended beyond the curtain walls, affording the castle’s occupants good lines of site for firing on any would be attackers.

The North facing door of the Mill Tower, secured from the outside.

The Mill Tower, situated at the South Western corner of the castle’s Outer Ward was built to protect the vulnerable corner of the curtain wall. The tower measures around 8 metres square, with the ground floor being used as a prison….the door here was secured from the outside. The floor above most likely provided fairly spacious and perhaps luxurious accommodation. The tower most likely gained its name from the horse powered mill that once existed nearby.

Above. The Diate Hill tower from within the Outer Court.

The Diate Hill tower stands on the West portion of the Outer Ward’s curtain wall. It is positioned so that it straddles the curtain wall, thereby giving the castle’s occupiers a good view of the curtain wall at a point where it turns gradually West. The 6 metre square tower is fully accessible (except for the second and third floors) A good set of draw bar slots can be seen on the internal door jambs, providing good security against unwanted visitors. The wooden access stair and balcony have been recreated to enable access to the first floor. Good views of the outer walls of this tower can be seen from the walk that circles the outside of the castle.

Above. Rosamund's Tower from within the castle's courtyard.

This view of Rosamund's Tower demonstrates where the Outer Ward meets the Inner Ward. There is a door in the bottom of the ditch (out of shot here) which connects with the postern in the outer wall of the tower. Anyone trying to enter uninvited here, would have faced defenders firing from above, from the flanking walls, and from the keep ahead of them.

A view of the exterior postern door of Rosamund's Tower.

This entrance into the castle, in the Northern wall wouldn't have been as exposed as this. Originally a draw bridge would have spanned the ditch\moat at this point, preventing access to the tower and subsequently the castle. The tower would have had battlements at its summit, and the curtain wall would have had a wall walk from which the castle's defenders could quite easily defend the wall.

Check the English Heritage web site for further information.

Castle park earthworks, Kendal

Castle Park earthworks
Kendal
Cumbria

This interesting earthwork feature can be seen just to the North of the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, sandwiched between the A684 and the Kendal to Windermere railway. The railway embankment lays some 50 yards to the East of the mound, with both structures appearing to merge gently into each other. At first glance, this earthwork feature, a mound with a steep West facing slope, crowned by a huddle of trees, appears to be nothing special. Upon closer inspection however, a number of interesting points appear.

The mound is flat topped, with a ring of trees crowning the summit. There is a fairly large central area within this ring of trees.

The rim of the mound appears to have been shored up...there are large amounts of masonry beneath the tree roots. For what purpose this building work was done, and from what period is not known. The fact that much of the masonry appears to be beneath the tree roots, could suggest that the stone work is older than many of the trees.

The most complete piece of masonry, appears to be on the West facing slope, as shown in the photos below.

This photo clearly shows the masonry beneath the root line of the mature trees.

And again, below.

The stone work is visible most of the way around the summit of the mound, although on the North and Eastern sides, it is either buried just beneath the surface, or has been robbed or fallen away.

The above photo shows the summit of the mound from the North. The slope here to the fields below, is much gentler.

The photo below shows the mound from the South. The railway embankment can just be seen to the right of the photo. The walk to the summit from here is a gentle uphill walk.

To the West of the mound, and at the foot of the steep drop, a shallow pond or mere can be seen. The original banks of this small mere can still be seen as earthworks higher up the field, indicating that it may have been larger some time in the past. It is this feature that I feel indicates the initial use of this site.

If this earthwork feature is taken in the context of the Castle Green Hotel, which lays about 100 yards to the South, it could be suggested that it is merely a garden feature or 'prospect mound' attached to what was once a wealthy family's home, not a spoil heap from the nearby railway, and, unfortunately, probably not the remains of a motte and bailey castle!! The Bindloss family built Castle Green as a home....and the motte, or the mound as it should probably be more correctly referred to as, which is probably one of the many drumlins left over from the last ice age, is ideally situated to give the family panoramic views over Kendal. Indeed, the mound looks directly onto Kendal castle, some three quarters of a mile away to the West, with the tiny mere at its Western base making a pretty ornamental garden. The gentle slope rising from South of the gardens of the Castle Green hotel to the summit, would have made for an easy walk to the summit....and the masonry that encircles the summit could have been put in place to stabilise the earth and prevent any slippage, especially with the number of trees already growing there. There seems to be no evidence of this being a motte and bailey castle...there are no signs of infilled or silted ditches, no banks acting as defences at the base of the mound, and the fact that it's overlooked by higher ground to the East negates any defensive qualities this site might posses. All in all, this appears to be an interesting footnote to the Castle Green Hotel, built by a rich local family in order for them to enjoy the gardens of their home, and also to enable them to look out over the town that they lived and worked in.

Royal Observer Corps Monitoring station, Kendal

Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Station
Kendal
Cumbria

This Cold War bunker, used for monitoring the movement of radioactive fallout in the event of a nuclear attack on the UK, is probably not much known to many locals. Situated on a hillock, overlooking Heron Hill and the Castle Estate, it consists of nothing more than a green concrete 'box' protruding above the surrounding grass.

The bunker was inspected as part of the Defence of Britain survey between 1995 and 2002, and was found to be in good condition. It was opened in March 1963, and closed in September 1991.

Check out the following link for some great close up and interior photos:
Days Later link 1

Days Later link 2