Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Penrith Castle is a ruined mediæval castle in Penrith, Cumberland. Built of red sandstone, the castle was begun around 1399 by Ralph Neville, as a defence against Scottish raids. After passing through several hands during the Wars of the Roses, the castle was granted to Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III), in 1471. He transformed it into a luxurious royal residence and used it as his base while securing the border with Scotland. Following Richard III's death in 1485, the castle remained Crown property but was never again used as a permanent residence. By the mid-16th century, the castle was in decay, with its valuable stone, lead, and timber being plundered for other building projects. During the Civil War in 1648, the Parliamentarian Major-General John Lambert briefly used the decaying castle as his headquarters. After the war, it was deliberately dismantled to prevent its reuse as a military stronghold. The ruined castle changed hands through several noble families before being sold to the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway in the 19th century, which built the nearby railway station on part of the grounds. In the 1920s, the local council converted the land into a public park. The castle is surrounded by a dry moat, added in the late 15th century, measuring 50 feet wide and up to 20 feet deep. The castle walls stand to their full height in several places. Today, the ruined castle walls are in the care of English Heritage. It is within the council area of Westmorland and Furness.
Historic England Grade I Listed 1138256.

Place Type: Mediæval Castle
Historic County: Cumberland
Lat, Long: 54.662166,-2.7570426
Grid Reference: NY 5126 2993
Civil Parish: Penrith CP
Council Area: Westmorland and Furness CA
Police Area: Cumbria PA

GBPN ID: 319515
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Penrith_Castle,_Cumberland_319515

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