Penrith Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penrith Castle |
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Exterior of Penrith Castle and remains of moat, 2008
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 Penrith Castle
Penrith Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°39′44″N 2°45′26″W / 54.6621°N 2.7573°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Controlled by | Eden District Council |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1399-1437 |
| Materials | New Red Sandstone |
Penrith Castle is a medieval castle that is now in ruins. It's located in Penrith, in the north-west of England. This historic site is just a few miles east of the beautiful Lake District National Park.
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A Look Back in Time
The area where Penrith Castle stands today might have been a Roman army camp a very long time ago. This is because the castle's layout is a bit unusual and not perfectly square, which was common for Roman camps.
Building a Stronghold
Penrith Castle was built between 1399 and 1470. Its main purpose was to defend against attacks from Scotland. Unlike many other castles built around the same time, it doesn't look super old, even though it is!
Who Built It?
For a long time, people thought a man named William Strickland started building the castle. However, it's now believed that Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, a very powerful lord, was the most likely builder. He might have used some earlier work or started fresh. What we do know is that it wasn't built by local people for their own defense, but by important figures.
Powerful Owners
Penrith Castle became a very important place for the Neville family in the 1400s. They were a powerful family who owned a lot of land and had great influence. The castle helped them control the area and gain support.
After the Earl of Salisbury died in 1460, his son, Richard, Earl of Warwick, inherited the castle. He was known as the "Kingmaker" because he had a big role in deciding who would be king. When he died in battle, the castle went back to the Crown (the king).
In 1471, Richard, Duke of Gloucester was given the castle by King Edward IV. Richard used Penrith as a base to deal with the Scots. He also enjoyed the money from the lands around the castle. He was even called "of Penrith Castle" in 1478.
From Royal Hands to Public Park
After Richard, Duke of Gloucester, became King Richard III and then died in battle, Penrith Castle remained part of the Crown's property for a long time.
Changing Owners
Later, in 1696, King William III gave the castle to his friend, Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland. The Earls and Dukes of Portland then sold it to the Dukes of Devonshire in 1787.
Even later, the Dukes of Devonshire sold the castle to a railway company, the Lancaster & Carlisle Railway Company. They built Penrith railway station nearby. Today, the castle ruins are right across from the railway station.
Eventually, the castle became owned by the Penrith Urban District Council. In the 1920s, they turned the castle grounds into a public park. They also built houses nearby.
What You See Today
Today, Penrith Castle is a ruin, but it's still an interesting place to visit. The walls are broken in many places, but you can still see where windows used to be. There are also some large underground rooms that might have been prisons.
The castle is looked after by English Heritage, an organization that cares for historic sites. It's also a "Grade I listed building," which means it's a very important historic structure.
