iKnow Lake District
Penrith UK Accommodation
The superbly intact Brougham Castle near Penrith
Brougham Castle, Home to Anne CliffordBrougham Castle Penrith Lake District Cumbria
Brougham Castle is just 2 miles outside of Penrith, and is surprisingly intact for an English Castle (not quite a bit of a ruin that Cromwell knocked about a bit!). The Castle was built by Robert de Vieuxpont in 1214 on the site of a Roman fort, and the great tower survives largely intact, however unfortunately later buildings were destroyed by fire in 1521.
Around Penrith UK and Brougham Castle
The keep and service buildings were surrounded by a timber palisade, replaced by Robert Clifford with a stone curtain wall C. 1300. He further strengthened the castle against attacks from the Scots and this proved important during the Anglo-Scottish wars and the Wars of the Roses.
Brougham Castle didn't see 'much action' after medieval times and it suffered from long periods of neglect, when the owners preferred to live elsewhere. It was also once home to Lady Anne Clifford, who inherited it in 1643. Clifford's diaries are available in print and she is an unusually strong women within her time (the diaries focus mostly on the post Elizabeth I period), although you'll have to trudge through the rather tedious family history 'listing' style of diary to find the odd interesting bit where she fought for her inheritance.
It was also once home to Lady Anne Clifford, who inherited it in 1643. Clifford's diaries are available in print and she is an unusually strong women within her time (the diaries focus mostly on the post Elizabeth I period), although you'll have to trudge through the rather tedious family history 'listing' style of diary to find the odd interesting bit where she fought for her inheritance.
Yawn, makes you think of all those interesting 'non-royally linked' individuals whose activities and challenges in the past are lost to history. She's an interesting study from that perspective alone, if you like. Today if you visit you'll discover an introductory exhibition, including carved stones from the nearby Roman fort.
