GLEASTON CASTLE

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DESCRIPTION

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Ruins of manorial castle. Rectangular in plan with towers to angles, three surviving. Probably early 14th century in date, dismantled in 1458, and abandoned in the late 15th century. The west and south towers are in good condition, but the rest of the castle is rather poor.

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[SD 26157145] Gleaston Castle [LB] (remains of [TI] (1)

Tradition claims an earlier stronghold here, presumably a motte and bailey, but no confirmation can be found. In 1250 there were remains of a curtain wall, which was strengthened and rebuilt with towers at the angles after 1316. In 1458 the castle was partly dismantled and fell into decay. Glasserton is mentioned in Domesday Book. (2)

The W and S towers are in good condition, but the rest of the castle is rather poor. There is no trace of the traditional motte.
See GPs AO/58/268/6-8 269/1-5. (3)

As described and illustrated above. The only surviving earthworks are overgrown foundations, generally amorphous. Published survey, 25", revised. (4)

Gleaston Castle Ruins of castle; probably early 14th century, abandoned late 15th century. Rectangular plan with rectangular towers to angles. No signs of wall to north, that to east now part of farm building. Grade 1. (5)

SD 261715 Gleaston Castle; scheduled. (6)

Listed by Cathcart King. (7)

14th century courtyard castle with towers succeeding a bailey. Traditionally there is a motte at the North-west corner. The wall and corner towers were built after a raid in 1316. The large North-West tower was added in 1340. In 1415, an indult was granted for a chapel. Abandoned 1458. Plan and illustration. (8)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" Prov 1956

( 2) Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society

13 - 1913 Page(s)142

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ASP 19-JUN-58

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F2 FRH 18-JAN-67

( 5) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE Listed Buildings District of South Lakeland Cumbria 5.3.90 p7 Page(s)7

( 6) English Heritage 1995 County list of Scheduled Monuments : March 1994

Page(s)37

(7) by David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery

1 - 1983 Page(s)245

(8) Denis R Perriam and John Robinson 1998 The medieval fortified buildings of Cumbria : an illustrated gazetteer and research guide

Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society extra series vol.29 Page(s)381-3

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