Carlisle Castle

Situated less than ten miles from the Scottish border, it is not surprising that Carlisle Castle was subjected to a history of feuding and attack throughout the first seven centuries of its construction.

Overlooking the River Eden in Cumbria, Carlisle Castle was built by William Rufus in 1092, after gaining control of the city that was dominated for the preceding two hundred years by the Scots. Despite the castle falling temporarily into Scottish possession during the Civil War and, later, the Jacobite Rising, Carlisle has remained 'English' moreorless since the 12th century.

The oldest and most impressive surviving building is the large 12th century Keep, situated at the north east corner of the Inner Bailey. This was the first stone building on the site, and served as the Royal Palace of David I. In one room of the Keep, remnants of a large fireplace, added at some time during the 14th century, can be seen. On the first floor level, a more chilling legend is revealed in the 'licking stones'. Apparently a room here was utilised as the dungeon during the Jacobite Rising and, suffering from a lack of water, the prisoners used to lick the stones in an effort to obtain sufficient moisture to stay alive!

Other buildings within the Inner Bailey include the Captain's Tower (or inner Gatehouse), a typical 12th century structure with heavy wooden doors, a portcullis and the gruesome 'murder holes'. There are the fragmented remains of the Royal apartments, the chapel and the Great Hall, now overshadowed by the Museum of the King's Own Border Regiment and, perhaps most famously, the ruins of Queen Mary's Tower in the far north east corner. The tower is among the oldest buildings of Carlisle Castle, and was named after Mary Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned there. Lady's Walk was similarly named, as this was the area where Mary used to walk in the sunshine during her captivity at Carlisle Castle.

With such a troubled and chequered history, it is not difficult to understand why Carlisle Castle has undergone several rebuilding programmes over the centuries. Nonetheless, it is still an imposing castle, and the permanent exhibitions are very informative about the major historical events that have taken place at Carlisle Castle.