Name: Carlisle Castle
Address: Castle Way, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8UR
Telephone: 01228 591922

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Carlisle Castle

Easter Adventure Quest | Sat 23 March - Sun 14 April

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Open daily, 10am - 5pm

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Address

Castle Way, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8UR

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Things to See and Do

Car-free Travel Discount

Escape the traffic and travel to Carlisle Castle by train, bus or bicycle and be rewarded with 20% off your walk-up ticket. Show your bus or train ticket, or bike helmet, at the point of purchase to receive your discount. English Heritage are working with Good Journey to encourage sustainable travel to Carlisle Castle, click here to find out more and for help planning your route.

What's On

Halloween Half-Term at Carlisle Castle

Sat 26 Oct - Sun 3 Nov 2024 10am - 4pm

Timeline

72Roman City

A large Roman fort is established on the site of the later castle. This becomes the nucleus for a prosperous town called Luguvalium, occupied by the Romans until the end of the 4th century

1092First Castle

William II advances north and defeats local warlord Dolfin. William takes Carlisle, makes the town a borough and builds the first castle on part of the Roman site.

Find out more about the history of Carlisle Castle

12th-15th CenturiesBesieged

The Scots hold the town and castle to siege in 1173, 1174, 1216, 1296, 1297, 1315 and 1461, making it the most frequently besieged place in the British Isles.

1122The Castle Fortified

Henry I visits Carlisle and orders that the castle be fortified. This may be the origin of the keep.

Read a description of Carlisle Castle

1308Added Comfort

Queen Mary's Tower is added to provide better accommodation.

15th-Early 16th CenturiesBorder Reivers

Families and clans on both sides of the border form armed bands of 'reivers' who regularly rob and pillage their neighbours, causing a prolonged economic decline.

16th CenturyRenovations

Henry VIII orders a review of Carlisle's defences, resulting in the largest building campaign since the 12th century.

1567Expensive Royal Guest

Mary, Queen of Scots, flees to England and is housed in the Warden's Tower, later Queen Mary's Tower, at Elizabeth I's expense.

1596Great Escape

The castle is used as a reivers' prison. The notorious reiver William Armstrong ('Kinmont Willie') is rescued when armed friends use ladders to break into the castle.

1641-5Surrender to Starvation

In the Civil War the castle is garrisoned for Charles I. The Scots and Parliamentarians starve out the castle. Almost a year later, the garrison finally surrenders.

1745-6Second Jacobite Rising

Prince Charles Edward Stuart takes the city and castle with 400 men. The Duke of Cumberland besieges the castle and the Jacobites surrender. Many are imprisoned and 31 are executed.