Carlisle Castle

900-year-old border fortress with a turbulent military history

Carlisle Castle has stood guard over the city since the late 11th century, when William Rufus ordered its construction to secure the newly acquired border territory. The red sandstone keep, built by Henry II in the 12th century, still dominates the city centre. The castle was besieged repeatedly — during the Baron's Wars, the Scots invasions, the English Civil War, and the Jacobite risings — and the medieval fabric shows its age in the best way.

Inside, English Heritage has installed an exhibition on the castle's military history. The views from the keep over the city and north towards Scotland give a clear sense of why this spot was worth fighting over for so long. Open daily; check English Heritage for current hours and admission.

things to do castle
A story
During the Jacobite rising of 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie captured Carlisle Castle with barely a fight — the garrison surrendered within days. The following year, after the Jacobite defeat at Culloden, the castle was used to hold hundreds of prisoners. According to local tradition, the prisoners were so desperate for water that they licked moisture from the stones; a carved stone inside the castle showing a prisoner licking a wall is still known as the "licking stone," though historians debate whether it was really made by a prisoner.