Naworth Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Naworth Castle |
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| Brampton, Cumbria, England | |
Aerial photograph of Naworth Castle
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 Naworth Castle
Naworth Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°57′20″N 2°41′20″W / 54.95556°N 2.68889°W |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Naworth Castle is an old castle in Cumbria, England. It is close to the town of Brampton. You can find it near the A69 road, about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Brampton. The castle sits across the River Irthing from Lanercost Priory.
Naworth Castle has been home to important families for centuries. First, it belonged to the Barons Dacre. Now, it is the home of their family members who inherited through female lines, the Earls of Carlisle. It is a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building.
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A Look Back: Castle History
Naworth Castle likely started as a square keep (a strong tower) and a bailey (a walled yard) in the late 1200s. The first time it was mentioned in records was in 1323. In 1335, Ralph Dacre was given special permission to add crenellations. These are the battlements (notches and raised parts) on top of castle walls.
Building and Changes Over Time
Thomas Dacre (1467–1525) was known as "the Builder Dacre." He led the English army's reserve group at the Battle of Flodden. He built the castle's main gateway. Above the gate, he placed his family's coat of arms (a special shield design). Below it was their motto: Fort en Loialte. This is an old French phrase meaning "Strong in Loyalty."
More parts were added to the castle in 1602 for Lord William Howard. It is thought that the beautiful walled garden from the 1700s is built where the castle's original moat (a water-filled ditch) used to be.
Lord William Howard bought the Dacre family estate back from King James. He then moved into Naworth Castle with his children and grandchildren. He worked hard to fix up the castle and improve the land around it. He also helped bring order to that part of the country.
Famous Visitors and Occupants
William Morris, a famous artist and socialist, stayed at the castle in August 1874. He wrote a letter saying how much he enjoyed a room in one of the towers. He said it hadn't been changed since William Howard's time. Morris called the castle "the most poetical in England."
From 1939 to 1940, a school called Rossall School used Naworth Castle. The school had to leave its own buildings because government groups needed them during World War II.
Today, the Hon. Philip Howard lives at Naworth Castle. He is the younger brother of the current 13th Earl of Carlisle. He is also expected to inherit the title someday.
The 1844 Fire at Naworth
On Saturday, May 18, 1844, a big fire broke out at Naworth Castle. It might have started from soot catching fire in a chimney. The castle's design, with few inside walls, let the fire spread very quickly. It kept burning until it reached the northern part of the castle.
Even though some items were saved, most of the roof fell in. The fire spread to almost every room on three sides of the castle's courtyard. Firefighters had to pass water in buckets from a small stream at the bottom of a steep hill. "Belted Will's Tower" was saved from the flames. The fire was finally controlled around one o'clock on Sunday morning. Later, a skilled architect named Anthony Salvin helped restore the castle.
Interesting Facts About the Castle
- The castle has a secret hiding place called a priest hole. These were small, hidden rooms where Catholic priests could hide during times when their religion was not allowed.
- A famous scientist named Francis Galton is said to have come up with the idea of correlation (how two things relate to each other) while at Naworth Castle.
- The writer Sir Walter Scott once described Naworth Castle. He said it was one of those grand old homes that showed how important nobles were long ago. He felt it showed a time when they lived among their many tenants, rather than seeking fame at court.
