10 Castles of South Cumbria

Furness and South Cumbria, as this blog showcases, has a deep and rich heritage stretching back to pre-history. This post will show 10 Castles from South Cumbria that are well worth a look. This list has castles of all size from various periods of history. There are small towers alongside large full blown castles/manor houses. Many you will recognise but some you may not have realised existed, so sit back and take a moment to discover these wonderful fortifications (in no particular order).

1. Dalton Castle

Once the court house and prison for Furness Abbey, Dalton Castle is a wonderful little pele tower sitting proudly overlooking Dalton. Owned by the National Trust and run by the Friends of Dalton Castle, the property is open on Saturdays from April to October and is well worth a visit. It may be a small property but there is much to discover with in as well as in the surrounding town.

2. Arnside tower

This lovely little pele tower sits on a rise along a picturesque valley just outside Arnside. It was built in the late 14th Century as a free standing tower most likely as defence against possible Scottish raids. The castle suffered a large fire in the 17th Century but was repaired and used until later that century when some dismantling happened and the tower was left a ruin. It is now on private land and not open to the public but can be seen from a footpath running near by. Further up this same valley is another pele tower known as Hazelslack Tower which is smaller but similar to Arnside.

3. Millom Castle

Millom Castle stands on the outskirts of Millom itself and consists of a large central pele tower surrounded by now ruined buildings, once halls, kitchens and living quarters. The site dates back to the 12th Century when it was a wooden built motte and bailey castle. It was not until the 14th Century that it was built in stone. The castle is now a privately owned farm and is not open for viewing inside but you can get good views from the passing road and from the next-door church yard. 

4. Gleaston Castle

The most ruinous castle on the list is most likely Gleaston Castle. Found next to a farm on the road out of Gleaston this castle is believed to have been started in the mid 13th century by John De Harrington I but was never fully completed. Certain areas were made fit for habitation and lived in but the full fortification was never finished. The site is now owned by a local farming family sitting in a field next to their home. The castle is not accessible for public viewing but can be seen clearly from the road passing by.

5. Piel Castle

Piel Castle was built by the Abbot of Furness on the south-eastern point of Piel Island, to guard the deep-water harbour of Barrow-in-Furness against pirates and Scots raiders. The site boasts the ruins of a 14th-century castle, now in the care of English Heritage, with a large keep, inner and outer baileys and towered curtain walls. The castle can be visited via a small ferry service running throughout the year, when the tide is right, over to the island. 

6. Kendal Castle

This impressive ruin stands on a hill overlooking the town of Kendal. It was originally built in the 1200's as a home for the barons of Kendal, who had influence on the development of the town. The Parr family was one of these barons and lived in the castle for a time. Their daughter was Catherine Parr, the sixth and final Queen of Henry VIII. By the time Catherine was born though the family had abandoned Kendal Castle and it soon fell into ruin. Today it is accessible to view just a short walk up a rather steep hill. There are information boards across the site and some stunning views of the town below.

7. Wray Castle

Wray Castle is the youngest castle on this list being built in the 1800s by retired surgeon James Dawson and wife Margret, whose fortune was used to pay for it. It was constructed on the north west shore of Windermere in a neo-gothic style, meant to mimic medieval castles. The castle has changed hands many times after the Dawson's passing but is now in the care of the National Trust, who open it throughout the year. The castle is pretty bare inside from its former life as a training centre but well worth a visit.

8. Broughton Tower

Standing just outside Broughton, to the north, is an impressive structure known as Broughton Tower Castle. This castle is a mix of varying periods, it was started as a Medieval pele tower (seen in the centre of the above picture) but was later expanded in the 18th Century turning the tower into a manor house. A large extension was added to the original 14th Century castle creating a much larger and impressive structure. Today the castle has been turned into private flats so is off limits for visitors but the building can be seen from a near by field and public footpath.

9. Muncaster Castle

Muncaster Castle sits high on a hill overlooking the picturesque Esk Valley and is an impressive structure. The castle started life as a medieval pele tower (right tower in the above picture), it was extended and later, in 1862 remodelled and extended further to create the building which can be seen today. This extension included the addition of a second tower, made to match the original medieval construction. The castle has been owned and lived in by the Pennington family since 1208. They still live there today and open it to the public throughout the year.

10. Sizergh Castle

Another National Trust property to round off the list is the beautiful Sizergh Castle. Starting life as a 14th Century solar tower the castle was expanded during the Tudor period to create the large building which is present today. The Strickland family have lived in the castle since 1239 and, although they gifted the property to the National Trust in 1950, they still live there today. The castle is definitely  worth a visit and a look around, be sure to take a walk in the stunning gardens too!

So that's our list of 10 Castles in South Cumbria, it is by no means an exhaustive list of all castles in Cumbria but it does highlight some of the more impressive affairs. All these sites are well worth a look, you can visit many for a wander inside and out but those which you can't are easy to see from a relatively close distance.

World War I, the effects in Furness

On the 28th July 1914 the 'Great War' began and was set to have a massive impact across the world, including on the home front here in the towns and villages of Furness.

From 1914 many young men enlisted in the British Army, they left their homes and went off to Europe to fight in the war. Many never returned from the trenches and fields of Europe and that, in turn, left lasting effects on the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers left grieving at their losses. Death and loss had never been seen on this scale and so many families were left broken because of it. But, that being said, life back at home had to, and did, carry on as normal! Or at least as normal as it could.

To begin with life didn't change too dramatically as men could choose whether or not to enlist meaning many stayed home and carried on working, doing equally patriotic work in local industry. There was no immediate threat of invasion or attack and at the start it was widely believed that it would all be over by Christmas. But by December 1914 it was starting to become clear that this war was going to go on long after the 25th and life wasn't going to stay the same.

Another Christmas would come and go with no end to the blood shed insight. Work had amped up at local industry sites like Vickers shipyard in Barrow who were creating weapons and ammunition for the army when, in 1916, conscription was introduced. The government passed the Military Service Act which specified that single men aged 18-45 were liable to be called for military service unless they were widowed, with children or ministers of religion. Suddenly hundreds of men were being called up for service and local industries were to be left with a much diminished work force. But new measures were taken. Women were called up to work.

Throughout 1916 many young women moved into the area and especially to Barrow to work in the shipyard as munition girls, creating ammunition for the army. These women came to take up the work of the vast amounts of men who were being sent off to Europe. It was at this time that the population of Barrow shot up to its highest point ever with hundreds of women and girls  moving in from across the country. Yet, the town had under half the housing it does today! Due to this there was often a quest for lodging when arriving in the town. A form of billeting was in operation in Barrow where the women were paired off and given a room in locals houses. One would work a shift while the other slept, on returning the next would sleep in the same, warm, bed recently vacated by the other now on shift. A reasonable living in an over crowded town, but each would have to pay 14 shillings a week, even though they only received a pound a week in pay, which didn't leave much to spend on ones self.

Working long and tiring hours (a night shift lasting from 5pm until 7.30 the next morning) munitions girls had little time to relax and have fun but when they did they would go on dates with boyfriends, visit Walney to see the sea (many of the girls coming from cities like Manchester had never seen the sea before) and also play football! Munitions football teams started springing up across the country and Barrow was no different. A Vickers team of 11 was created and played often throughout the war years going up against various teams from across the modern county.

Although being the 'home front' there was some military activity in Furness, particularly on Walney island where there was two military encampment, one known as Hilpsford Fort and one as Fort Walney. The Fort Walney site was operational from 1881 right through the First and Second World Wars. It was improved three years previously to the First World War in 1911 as a better coastal defence. The fort was manned by the Lancashire and Cheshire Royal Garrison Artillery which no doubt would have consisted of some men from the local towns and villages, like Barrow. The fort would have sat in a patch of land that is now half way up Walney golf course, around the current coastguard tower (which once was part of the fort complex). Interestingly if you look at aerial views from today of where the fort was you can still see the faint markings of where the walls used to be. Also note you can see the markings from Medieval ridge and furrow farming around the site too!

Left: Fort Walney from the Air 1940  |  Right: Aerial view of where Fort Walney was today courtesy of Google Maps. 

Hilpsford Fort was based at the very southern tip of Walney island where the Nature Reserve and Gullary is today. This fort was built during 1914 at the start of World War 1 and provided a good amount of jobs for an area in need of labour. It was constructed as an emergency battery and would have held at least one large defensive gun. The fort was dismantled in the 1920's after the war had ended but was re-instated in 1940 during WWII. Evidence of the later fort can still be seen today amongst the gulls and grass of South Walney.

Dotted across Walney there are also three Costal Artillery Searchlight Emplacements which date back to 1914, although they were all modified during World War 2. These emplacements are easily visible today, two situated amongst the golf course (next to the site of Fort Walney) and another situated where Hipsford Fort once was. They are wonderful reminders of the areas military past and of the effects of World War 1 on the area. You can find out a little more about these emplacements on a previous blog post about Remnants of World War II here. Just imagine the men who would have stood in these structures keeping an eye out on the sea incase of invasion. It must have been a long and somewhat dull job and can't have been the easiest thing to do day on day. But if invasion were to happen they would provide early warning and create a first line of defence.

Aerial view from Google Maps
showing the trench layout.

Walney, along with it's forts and emplacements, has had practice trenches built sometime in the early months of World War 1. These trenches were situated in the northern part of Walney near to the coastline. They were used for soldiers to practice in ahead of going out to the Western Front to fight. Exact details of what might have happened in these trenches is uncertain as there is a distinct lack of documented evidence along with many embargoes on Ordnance Survey maps from the time. But suffice to say many of our ancestors from the area could well have trained in these trenches. You can see the layout of the trench system in the picture to the left, they appear in a crenellated design.

On November 11th 1918 peace was finally announced and the war was over.

There is no doubt that the war had a great impact on Furness and its people. Military bases being built formed jobs but also brought concern. Men going to war brought hope but also fear and, of course, heartbreaking sorrow. Women came to the fore with many flocking to towns like Barrow to work but this, in turn, brought a population boom causing new issues for the area.

War is a terrible thing which brings much destruction both physically and emotionally and can leave lasting effects across the planet. Furness, as everywhere in Britain, Europe and the world, felt the effects of World War 1 and things never were quite the same again but life, as ever, went on. 

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"Your Country Needs You"

Below is a short film that was created by myself for a heritage project called One Day in Cumbria, it is a sensitive look at what many young men across Furness were struggling with; whether to enlist or not. Follow Ben as he tries to come to a decision on the 5th December 1914. You can choose whether he enlists or not by watching on YouTube to see what the options were.

Furness Heritage Sites by Night

The heritage sites across Furness are beautiful and captivating by day but of the night they become even more awe inspiring!

In this post I will showcase a variety of images taken at nighttime of different heritage sites from across the area. All these sites can be easily viewed at night and they truly are stunning! So take a moment and enjoy these 5 starry photos.

Birkrigg Stone Circle

A magical site in the day but visiting the ancient stones of a night-time brings a whole new dimension to this amazing place. Well worth a visit if you are willing to brace the cold!

Ulverston Canal

The mile long stretch of water is quite the tranquil setting and it is even more so come the night. Silence takes over with just the faint sounds of night-time wildlife and the lapping of water.

Dalton Castle

This small but imposing Medieval peel tower is a lasting reminder of Dalton's ancient heritage and is a great attraction to look around. Come the night though it seems that little more impressive in front of the star filled sky. 

Gleaston Castle

The ruins of Gleaston Castle that lie in a field just outside the village are lovely by day but by night become something even more enchanting. The stars above, the clouds passing by and the fiery orange glow from the distant towns burning up the horizon! 

Furness Abbey

Furness Abbey is the jewel in the crown of Furness heritage and is stunning, tranquil and dominating in the day but at night it becomes spell binding and magical with stars glistening above and the moon lighting the earthy red stone. You can't enter the site of a night but you can see the ruins from the road that rings around it, that is where this photo was taken from. Although I strongly advise visiting in the day for a proper look around inside.

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The final three sites featured here are attractions or privately owned and thus are not accessible by night. Dalton Castle is open for viewing inside on a selection of days throughout the summer and is certainly worth a look, it can though be viewed from the outside whenever. Furness Abbey is open to view inside on Saturday and Sunday during the winter and 7 days a week in the summer but can be seen from the roadside. Gleaston Castle is privately owned and is not accessible to the public at all but is easily viewed from the road that runs by it.
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All images Copyright © Iron Shepherds Living History/Stuart Appley