Scaleby Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scaleby Castle |
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| Scaleby, Cumbria, England | |
Aerial photograph of Scaleby Castle
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 Scaleby Castle
Scaleby Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°57′12″N 2°51′43″W / 54.9532°N 2.8619°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Events | English Civil War |
Scaleby Castle is a historic building located in the village of Scaleby, Cumbria, England. It was first built in the early 1300s and made much bigger in the 1400s. This turned it into a strong fortress. During the English Civil War, soldiers attacked the castle twice and even burned parts of it. Later, the castle was rebuilt and became a large country house.
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Scaleby Castle: A Historic Fortress
Scaleby Castle is a very old building with a long history. It has seen many changes over the centuries. Today, it stands as an important example of old English architecture.
Building the Castle
The castle was built by Robert de Tilliol after the year 1307. It was placed next to the village of Scaleby, about 6 kilometers from the city of Carlisle. The Tilliol family was well-known in the area for a long time. Robert was given the land by King Edward I. King Edward II then gave him permission to build a castle there.
The first castle had two main groups of buildings. These were connected by a small courtyard. A strong wall protected both sides of the castle. It was also surrounded by a wide, circular moat filled with water. This moat was about 7.4 meters wide, making it hard for enemies to reach the castle.
Changes Over Time
The Tilliol family line ended in 1435. The castle then passed to the Colville family through marriage. They rebuilt a lot of the castle in the late 1400s. They updated the main tower, called a pele tower, the great hall, and the main entrance. The entrance even had a special protective gatehouse called a barbican.
The pele tower was a very strong part of the castle. It was about 12 meters by 9 meters across. It had three floors and very thick walls, making it difficult to attack. Later, in 1596, the Musgrave family bought the castle. Sir Edward Musgrave rebuilt the southern part of the castle at this time.
The Castle During the English Civil War
In 1641, the English Civil War began in England. This was a fight between the supporters of King Charles I, called Royalists, and the supporters of Parliament. Sir Edward Musgrave, a grandson of the earlier Sir Edward, was a strong Royalist. He chose to support the King.
In February 1645, Parliament's soldiers were attacking nearby Carlisle. They also attacked Scaleby Castle. They eventually took control of the castle, causing a lot of damage. Edward Musgrave got the castle back later. However, at the start of the Second English Civil War in 1648, he again fought for the King. This time, the castle quickly fell to Parliament's forces, who then set it on fire.
Scaleby Castle Today
After the war, Sir Edward Musgrave was in a lot of debt. He sold the castle to Richard Gilpin. Gilpin worked to repair the property around the year 1800. The Gilpin family owned the castle for some time, but it eventually fell into disrepair again. It was then restored once more by Rowland Fawcett. In 1847, James Fawcett was living there.
Today, Scaleby Castle is a very important historical site. It is listed as a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument. This means it is protected because of its special history and architecture. It is currently the home of Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley.
