More information : [NY 685199] Appleby Castle Caesar's Tower Moat [twice] [GT] (1)
First or early Norman castle at Appleby thrown up by Ranulf de Meschines. It began as a mount-and-bailey of timbered earthwork, and its banks and ditches survive as one of the most impressive examples of Norman military engineering. Later the motte was cut down and on its truncated summit was built the fine stone tower. Whether this keep was in existence before the capture of Appleby in 1174 may be doubted.
The squared-off eastern end of the bailey indicates that the hall was always here; at first it was doubtless of timber, but seems in late Norman times to have been replaced by a hall of stone, of which a considerable portion of the eastern or outer wall remains in the existing structure.
The Norman hall and postern would seem to be older than the existing keep. Possibly an earlier keep was destroyed, in 1174. This 14th cent. building is designed as a hall-house upon the traditional lines, with a central hall, chapel and great chamber. Considerable Norman ashlar work still surviving in the wall which encloses both mount and bailey shows that the replacing of the timber defences was completed before the end of the 12th cent. The hemicylindrical towers were built in the 13th cent, one is still in an excellent state of preservation.
The great Gatehouse on the west side of the modern entrance was built by Lord John Clifford before 1422. A massive fragment survives; it was probably destroyed in the Civil War. Lord Thomas Clifford's reconstruction of the east range in 1454 is still recognisable. In the SE tower the 15th cent work seems to include everything above the 2nd floor.
The castle is described by Leland as ruinous in 1539, and in 1651-3 the castle was restored by the Countess of Pembroke. Of her work we may still indentify the mid-wall in the keep, the 4 turret heads thereon, the former brew-house range west of the entrance, extensive rebuilding of the Norman curtain, the remarkable steading in the western bailey, and the bee-house to the north. [marked 1 & 2 on inset plan.]
Between 1686 and 1688 the 4th Earl of Thanet built the existing eastern range embodying the shell of its md. predecessor, and it would seem that the wing extending westward from this work to the 13th cent. drum tower was added in 1695. (2)
Similar information. (3)
In good condition, see photograph of tower.
Published survey (25") of earthworks revised. (4)
[NY 6819] Appleby Castle [NR] Caesar's Tower [NR] (5)
Uninhabited parts scheduled as A.M's. (6)
Appleby Castle. Grade 1 (7)
In March 1967 repairs to some basement rooms at the castle revealed the top of a well-head framed and lined with timber; a distinctively Roman type. No objects of this date were hitherto known from Appleby. It was square, but had been crushed into a diamond shape. It could not be excavated, but was measured and photographed. The author concludes a Roman fort here, at the river crossing, 5 miles from Kirkby Thore. (8)
RCHM Westmorland file for Appleby parish has a cover note from H G Ramm to Dufty and a copy of the report on the probable Roman well found in 1967. The site, in the crook of the river, is held suitable for a Roman settlement. (9)
Additional reference. (10)
Listed by Cathcart King. (11)
Additional reference. (12)
First documented 1154-7, it was confiscated by the Crown in 1157 and regranted to the Morevilles. It was again confiscated by the Crown between 1173-9 and granted to the Valognes until 1190, after which it was reconfiscated. (13)
Listed with plan and illustrations. (14)
One of the principle border fortresses, Appleby Castle came into royal hands in 1157 following the surrender by King Malcolm. It was granted to Hugh de Morville, and later to the Cliffords who carried out much of the later building work. (15)
The earthworks of Appleby Castle are visible on lidar, at NY 6855 1992. The truncated motte and the various earthworks that formed the bailey are visible. A later imposition, a post medieval garden terrace is visible at NY 6855 1992. The features are extant on the latest 2013 lidar. (16) |