Carlisle Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlisle Castle |
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| Carlisle, England | |
Carlisle Castle
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 Carlisle Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°53′50″N 2°56′31″W / 54.897260°N 2.941936°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference NY396562 |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Battles/wars |
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| Events | |
Carlisle Castle is an ancient stone fortress located in the city of Carlisle, England. It stands proudly near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall. This castle is over 930 years old! It was first built in 1092 by William II of England and later rebuilt in stone around 1122 by Henry I of England.
Carlisle Castle has played a super important role in British history, especially during the wars between England and Scotland, known as the Wars of Scottish Independence. It has seen many battles and invasions. In 1745–46, during the Jacobite Rising, Carlisle became the last English fortress to face a siege. Today, English Heritage looks after the castle, and it's open for everyone to visit. You can even find a museum inside its walls!
Contents
Carlisle Castle: A Historic Fortress
Building a Stronghold
Carlisle Castle was first built when William II of England, the son of William the Conqueror, was king. Back then, the area called Cumberland (now part of Cumbria) was considered part of Scotland. King William II ordered a Norman style castle to be built in 1092. This first castle was a "Motte and Bailey" type, meaning it had a wooden fort on a hill (motte) and a fenced area (bailey). It was built on the site of an old Roman fort called Luguvalium.
In 1122, Henry I of England decided to make the castle much stronger. He ordered a stone castle with towers to be built. This is when the main tower, called the keep, and the city walls were constructed. The keep you see today was built between 1122 and 1135.
Battles and Border Wars
Because the English kings wanted to control Cumberland, Carlisle Castle often changed hands between England and Scotland for about 700 years. The first big attempt by the Scots to take it back was during a difficult time in England called The Anarchy.
In 1296, a Scottish leader named John 'The Red' Comyn tried to attack Carlisle. But the castle's governor, Robert de Brus, successfully defended it, forcing the Scots to retreat. Later, from July to August 1315, Scottish forces tried to lay siege to the castle again. However, they didn't have enough supplies or soldiers to keep the siege going, so they left.
From the mid-1200s until 1603, when England and Scotland united under one king, Carlisle Castle was a very important headquarters. It was the main base for the "Western March," which was a special area set up to protect the western part of the border between England and Scotland.
Famous Prisoners and Sieges
King Henry VIII made changes to the castle so it could defend against cannons. For a few months in 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots, was held prisoner inside the castle's Warden's Tower.
Later, during the English Civil War, the castle faced a long siege by the Parliamentary forces. This siege lasted for eight months in 1644!
The last major battles for Carlisle and its castle happened during the Jacobite rising of 1745. "Prince" Charles Edward Stuart and his Jacobite army marched south from Scotland. They captured Carlisle and its castle. However, they were soon driven north by the forces of William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, who was King George II's son. Carlisle was taken back, and the Jacobite soldiers were captured. This battle was the last time the castle was used for fighting. After 1746, defending the border was no longer needed because England and Scotland were united as Great Britain.
After its fighting days were over, parts of the castle were taken down in the 1800s to use the stone for other things. In 1881, the castle became the main base for the Border Regiment, a British Army group. The Army continued to use parts of the castle until recently.
Discover the Museum
Inside Carlisle Castle, you can visit Cumbria's Museum of Military Life. This museum tells the story of Cumbria's local army regiments, like the Border Regiment and the King's Own Royal Border Regiment. It's a great place to learn about the soldiers who served there!
Legends of King Arthur
Carlisle Castle is also part of some exciting legends! A poem from the 1300s tells a story about Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur's Round Table knights. The legend says he stayed at Carlisle Castle while hunting in the mysterious Inglewood Forest. Some people even believe that Carlisle Castle might be Camelot itself, the famous home of King Arthur's court! This story has been made into movies several times, including films in 1973, 1984, and 2021.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Carlisle, Cumbria
- Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
- List of castles in England
- Siege of Carlisle
- High Sheriff of Cumberland
