Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Egremont Castle a ruined Norman motte-and-bailey castle in Egremont, Cumberland. The original castle was built on a mound above the River Ehen on the site of a Danish fort following the conquest of Cumberland in 1092 by William II of England. The present castle was built by William le Meschin, who founded the castle between 1120 and 1135. Over the next two centuries, the castle and its surrounding barony changed hands six times, often through inheritance disputes. It faced repeated attacks from Scottish forces throughout its active history, where Robert Bruce sacked Egremont twice. The end came during the 'Rising of the North' in 1569 when several northern noblemen took part in a rebellion to place Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne of England. The rebellion was suppressed, and Egremont Castle was slighted to prevent it being used again. It crumbled into ruin with some of its stone repurposed for other buildings in the town and abandoned, apart from a single room which was used as a courthouse until 1786. It is said to have once possessed a horn which only the rightful heir could blow. The legend was the subject of William Wordsworth's poem 'The Horn of Egremont Castle'. It is within the council area of Cumberland.
Historic England Grade I Listed 1137138.

Place Type: Mediæval Castle
Historic County: Cumberland
Lat, Long: 54.47974,-3.5299164
Grid Reference: NY 0097 1045
Civil Parish: Egremont CP
Council Area: Cumberland CA
Police Area: Cumbria PA

GBPN ID: 319510
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Egremont_Castle,_Cumberland_319510

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