Carlisle, an old border town on the River Eden and now county town of Cumbria, is mainly an industrial center and a road and rail junction. In addition to historic buildings such as the cathedral, the Norman castle and the nearby Hadrian's Wall, the city also has a good modern shopping center. Carlisle Castle is a notable feature of the town, managed by the English Heritage. Tullie House features local history displays and an art gallery. The lovely Scottish border country to the north (the Southern Uplands) and the magical Lake District to the south are both within easy reach.
Hadrian's Wall ran just north of Carlisle, through what is now the suburb of Stanwix, where the Roman fortifications crossed the river. The fort later developed into the Romano-British town of Luguvalium. In the 11th and 12th centuries the Scots claimed the town, but after it was fortified by William Rufus had little chance of taking it. In 1645 however Carlisle did fall to a Scottish army under General Leslie after an eight month long siege.
In November 1745 the city was taken again, this time by the Young Pretender, Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), without a shot being fired. It was retaken by George II's son, the Duke of Cumberland, after the Prince's resounding defeat at Culloden the following year.
The first castle in Carlisle was built by William Rufus in about 1092, providing protection against the ever troublesome Scots; the present castle, with its magnificent Norman keep, took shape in the course of several subsequent stages of rebuilding.
Manicured lawn in front of the Carlisle Castle.
Museum of the Border Regiment
Carlisle Castle now houses the regimental museum of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment. Not only the Keep but also the 13th century Ireby Tower and 14th century Captain's Tower are extremely impressive. Visitors can see the dungeons in which more than 300 Scottish prisoners were held in 1745, as well as various mementos of Mary Queen of Scots, imprisoned in the 14th century Queen Mary's Tower for two months in 1568.
Address: Carlisle Castle and Border Regiments Museum, Castle Way, Carlisle CA3 8UR, England
Hours:
April 1 to September 30: 9:30am-6pm
October 1 to October 31: 10am-5pm
November 1 to March 31: 10am-4pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Tips: Guided tour is an optional extra in February and during Easter Holidays.
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Built between the 12th and 15th C, the Carlisle Cathedral contains a number of lovely features including carved capitals, the east window in the choir, and the carved choir stalls.
About 12mi/19km northeast of Carlisle is Lanercost Priory, a former Augustinian house founded by William de Vaux in 1166. The choir (1175) and transepts (1220) of the church are roofless, but the nave, dating from the first third of the 13th century, is still used as the parish church. The Jupiter Altar is made of stone taken from Hadrian's Wall. Note also the handsome arcading and the stained glass window by Edward Burne-Jones.
Address: Lanercost Priory, Brampton, Carlisle CA8 2HQ, England
Hours:
March 21 to September 30: 10am-5pm
October 1 to October 31: 10am-4pm; Closed: Tue, Wed
November 1 to December 13: 10am-4pm; Closed: Tue, Wed, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
The 17th C Renaissance style Tullie House has contained a museum and art gallery since the late 1800s. On display are Roman antiquities, local history and natural history displays, and an exhibit on Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Brampton in Cumbria is a market town 11mi/18km northeast of Carlisle. The tourist information centre is housed in the octagonal Moot Hall, built in 1817. Talkin Tarn Country Park near Brampton features a 65-acre lake and a bird reserve.
Address: Brampton Tourist Office, Moot Hall Market Place, Brampton CA8 1RA, England
The Citadel was originally constructed between 1541 and 1543 to secure the Carlisle's southern approaches, the engineer in charge being a Moravian, Stefan von Haschenperg. The massive towers seen today were built in the 19th century by Sir Robert Smirke when the old Citadel was converted into Courthouses.
Outside the gate stands a statue of William, Earl of Lonsdale (1792-1844), a Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmorland.
From the Castle there is a good view of the town. A section of the old city walls, including a sallyport (a gateway for mounting surprise attacks against besieging troops), can still be seen near by in West Walls.
The Guildhall, also called Redness Hall after Richard de Redness, a merchant who owned the building from 1377 to 1399, was for centuries the meeting house of the eight trade guilds of Carlisle.
Longtown has a detailed history including close proximity to the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542. Longtown is also the location of the largest sheep market in England.
Address: Longtown Tourist Office, Memorial Hall Community Centre, Longtown CA6 5SJ, England
The Market Place is adorned with an old Market Cross (Carel Cross) erected in 1682, from where in 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to have proclaimed his father king.
Near Lanercost Priory, beyond the attractive medieval bridge over the Irthing, is the entrance to Naworth Castle, the magnificent seat of the Earl of Carlisle, which dates from 1335. Particularly fine are the Great Hall and the Library, which has a Burne-Jones chimney piece. The tower (ca. 1350) is named after Lord William Howard, son of the Duke of Norfolk, who converted the castle into a country house (seen only by prior arrangement).
Opposite the Market Cross stands Carlisle's Town or Moot Hall (1717) in which city council meetings continued to be held until moved to the new Civic Center in 1964.
Gatehouse from a Benedictine priory, located in Wetheral, east of Carlisle. Wetheral Priory was founded in 1106 and although it now stands alone, it would have been flanked in the Medieval period by other buildings, including a chapel, administrative offices and a school.
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