APPLEBY CASTLE

Westmorland

Westmorland's best preserved Castle stands in the heart of its county town (nowadays referred to as Appleby-in-Westmorland, so that people don't forget that it wasn't always just a small town in the huge county of Cumbria).

The Castle was founded around 1100 by Ranulf le Meschin, the town most likely being founded at the same time.  Hugh de Morville owned the Castle but forfeited it for his part in the murder of Thomas Becket, the Castle then passing into Royal hands.

In 1174 King William the Lion of Scotland invaded the Eden valley and took Appleby Castle without a fight.  After Henry II recaptured the Castle it was granted to Theobald de Valoignes.

The great square keep (pictured), a particularly elegant version of the standard design, was built either by de Morville or by de Valoignes.  It has one of the few original Norman roofs in any great keep.

The Castle passed to the Cliffords in 1269 and Roger de Clifford was responsible for building curtain walls and a gatehouse, the latter having long since vanished.  Twice in the 1300s Appleby town was invaded by the Scots, but on both occasions they seem to have avoided the Castle.

Destruction came in 1569 when the Castle was dismantled during the Rising of the North against Elizabeth I.  Lady Anne Clifford later restored the Castle, as she did at the other Clifford Castles (Brougham, Brough, Pendragon and Skipton).  Little of her work is evident at Appleby.  The transformation of the hall block into a mansion was carried out by her son-in-law the Earl of Thanet around 1688.

The Castle is open during the summer months.

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© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
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2001