BROUGHAM CASTLE

Westmorland

The extensive ruin of Brougham Castle in its beautiful setting beside the River Eamont is very typical of the red-stone Castles of Cumbria.  The area was a violent one in medieval times, and consequently many of the Castles are in poor condition.

Brougham's origins go back to around 1203 when the land was bought by Robert de Vipont who most likely built the keep. The Castle was inherited by Robert de Clifford in 1283 and he greatly extended the Castle after licence to crenellate in 1314.  It was during this period that the curtain wall was built and the two gatehouses (pictured) which were built in an old-fashioned manner (oblong as opposed to the typical Edwardian round towered gate).

De Clifford died at Bannockburn in 1314 and the Castle passed down to his ancestors.  In 1389 Roger Clifford constructed the residential quarters.  Much of the Castle was falling into ruin when Lady Anne Clifford inherited all the families Castles, and like those at Appleby, Brough, Pendragon and Skipton (Yorkshire) Lady Anne rescued the Castle from total collapse (one of the very rare examples of Castle construction during the Commonwealth) and died here in 1676, the last of her line.

Today the Castle is owned by English Heritage and 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