COCKERMOUTH CASTLE

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DESCRIPTION

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Originally a motte and bailey, built circa 1150; it was replaced by a stone built enclosure castle in circa 1225, and was further strengthened in the mid to late 14th century; ruinous in the 16th century. Beseiged unsuccessfully by Royalists in the Civil War. In the 19th century further buildings were added. It contains a Roman Altar fragment dated 241-2 AD. Residential and office elements added 1802-5. Scheduled.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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[NY 1223 3085] Cockermouth Castle [N.R.] (1)

Cockermouth Castle is 13th cent. with later additions and is situated on a promontory ditched on the east side. (2)

It contains an altar fragment (Roman) dated 241-2 A.D. (3)

The remains are well preserved and partly in use as estate office. Published earthworks 25" revised. (4)

CASTLEGATE Cockermouth Castle (uninhabited parts)
Ancient Monument (Scheduled). No.340
The site is on a promonotory between the Rivers Cocker and Derwent, and there has been a castle since before 1221. The Hall, 1360, Flag Tower 1387, Gatehouse rebuilt circa 1400. Full curtain walls and 2 wards. Masonry in good order externally. Ref. Curwen, "Castles",p. 127. An important building in a fine setting.

Cockermouth Castle (residence of Lord Egremont)
Occupies the north side of the outer ward, formerly separate cottages, now 1 house, late Georgian in character, stone, 2 storeys, 8 sash windows on upper floor, 3 doors and sashes on ground floor, most windows 12-paned with plain stone architrave. Slate roof and stone chimneys, the east end adjoining the Gatehouse.

Outer Gatehouse
C14, vaulted, with round arch and spiral stair. The upper rooms communicate with Lord Egremont's house and also the east range of buildings.

Eastern range of buildings
(Lord Egremont's Estate Office and the office of the Westmorland Green Slate Company)
Adjoins the Gatehouse, and with continuous internal access.
Victorian and 1904. 2 storeys, stone, sash windows, a Victorian Gothic doorway with flanking pointed windows, and 3 windows with labels, 2 rectangular bay windows (one dated 1904) with gabled tops.
Adjoins the Flag Tower in the south east corner of the outer ward, which is medieval and which is linked internally with the estate office and contains muniments etc.

Southern range of buildings, adjoining the Flag Tower (including garages, store rooms and Castle Cottage)
Circa 1800. stone buildings originally stables and coach-houses. Centre square tower with coach entrance, clock, and coachmen's rooms above (3 storeys in all); flanking 2 storeyed garages to left with 2 upper windows of pointed arched lights with net tracery; cottage to right with 3 pointed arched windows with net tracery.

Pump inside the Outer Gatehouse
Square stone pier with chamfered panelled corners and curved capping. Iron served handle and wooden pipe. Stone trough, square with circular basin.

The inhabited parts of Cockermouth Castle form a group with the uninhabited parts. (5)

(NY 12233085) Castle (NR) (6)

NY 123309 Cockermouth Castle, (uninhabited parts), scheduled. (7)

Cockermouth Castle; originally a motte and bailey, built in c1150 on the western edge of a ridge which overlooked the town. Around 1225 the timber castle was replaced by a stone built triangular castle. During the mid-late 14th century the castle's defences were further strengthened. The castle was in decay by the latter half of the 16th century and though it was beseiged by Royalists in the Civil War, it suffered little damage. From 1802-5, 1850 and 1904 various residential additions and offices were built in the castle. (8)

Main events in the castle's history listed by Cathcart King. (9)

Listed with plan and illustrations.(10)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" Prov 1957

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

(JF Curwen) 11 - 1911 Page(s)132

( 3) Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

(Rev. Dr. Bruce) 7 - 1866-76 Page(s)80

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 RL 18-APR-66

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

DOE Listed Buildings Dist of Allerdale (Cockermouth Area) Cumbria July 1974 pp2-3

( 6) Annotated Record Map

OS 1:10 000 1983

( 7) by Department of the Environment, Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings London 1978 List of ancient monuments in England: Volume 1, Northern England; Volume 2, Southern England; Volume 3, East Anglia and the Midlands

DOE (IAM) Anc Mons Eng 1 1978 Page(s)18

( 8) Scheduled Monument Notification

English Heritage SAM Amendment 17.5.95

(9) 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)84

(10) 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)90-1

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