Kendal Castle facts for kids
Kendal Castle is an old castle located east of the town of Kendal in Cumbria, northern England. It sits on top of a small, rounded hill formed by a glacier. The castle was built in the 12th century and was the main home for the lords of the area, known as the Barony of Kendal. By the 1400s, the important Parr family owned the castle.
History of Kendal Castle
Kendal Castle was built in the late 1100s. It was first the home of the Lancaster family, who were the local lords, or "Barons of Kendal."
The Famous Parr Family
The most famous family linked to the castle is the Parr family. This includes Catherine Parr, who became the sixth wife of King Henry VIII. Her family had lived in the Kendal area for a long time. An ancestor, Sir William Parr, married Elizabeth Ros, who was the heiress of Kendal, during the time of King Edward III of England.
However, by the time Catherine Parr was born, her family had already moved away from the castle. It was starting to fall apart. Catherine's father preferred to live in London, closer to the King's court. It seems that Sir Thomas Parr's father was the last of the Parrs to actually live at Kendal Castle.
For a long time, people thought Queen Catherine Parr was born at Kendal Castle. But new research shows that the castle was in very bad condition by the 1500s. It is now believed she was most likely born in Blackfriars, London.
Kendal Castle Today
Kendal Castle has been a ruin since the Tudor period (the 1500s). Today, the site is open to the public. The South Lakeland District Council looks after it. Visitors can explore the old walls and imagine what the castle was like long ago.
Gallery
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Kendal Castle at sunset, August 2003
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Kendal Castle, October 2005
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Kendal Castle, April 2007
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Kendal Castle, July 2007
