Kirkoswald Castle

I’m an admirer of ancient castles as I've been studying them for almost 6 years! Allow me to tell a story about one of the oldest castles in the country.

Kirkoswald Castle is situated southeast of the town. It is still partially standing and was constructed from Penrith red sandstone. King John authorised the crenellation of a Hugh de Morville-owned manor house that was on the spot in 1201. The Scots destroyed it in 1314, and it was restored three years later in 1317. It had a significant expansion and moat addition around 1485. The stained glass, panelling, and beamed ceilings were transferred to Naworth Castle upon the death of Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre, in 1525. Between 1610 and 1688, it was disassembled. On December 27, 1967, the castle was initially put on the list.

It has been a square, moated, late-medieval, high-status residential fortress on the outskirts of Kirkoswald hamlet since 1485 AD. The remaining southeast and southwest towers have since crumbled, leaving just footings and ground-level chambers. The castle has been looted of stone for use in other buildings in Kirkoswald and further north at Naworth Castle. The previous solar tower (living quarters) and garderobe was the tallest structure (toilet).

When Historic England conducted its most recent inspection of the castle in 2004, it was noted as being "at risk." The Fellfoot Forward programme offers a chance to take the building off the Heritage At Risk Register and help the landowner protect it in the future.

Consolidation work began in April 2021 with the help of Mosedale Gillatt Architects and Stone Technical Services, specialists in historic buildings. Visitors were given site tours by Stone Technical Services stonemason Brian Ellison, who described the methods being utilised to consolidate this historic structure. Additionally, volunteers had the chance to learn and practise skills that haven't changed since the castle was first built, like deep tamping and pointing, as well as how to apply lime mortar to heritage buildings.

Despite having a dilapidated and overgrown appearance, Kirkoswald Castle nonetheless has large standing and buried ruins. Due to its proximity to the Scottish border, it served as both a focal point for English military efforts against the Scots in the late 13th and early 14th centuries as well as the first line of defence against approaching Scottish armies. As a result, it offers insight into the continually evolving architectural style and defensive tactics used in mediaeval castles. Furthermore, the wet areas of the moat will protect organic remnants.

The Kirk Oswald Castle monument includes the standing and submerged remnants of the mediaeval enclosure castle type Kirk Oswald Castle, as well as the moat surrounding it, the island the moat created, a stone bridge close to the moat's southeast corner, and an outer bank flanking the moat's northern and western sides. A little distance to the south-east of Kirkoswald village, it is situated on slightly rising ground. Ranulph Engine is said to have built a timber tower here around the middle of the 12th century.

The moat, as well as portions of the structures, including a tower, are still visible at the site, which is located on farmland. A public footpath that runs alongside the location shouldn't be entered for safety concerns.

The ruins are recognised as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England, and they are both Scheduled Monuments along with the moated site they are located on.