Carlisle, England Tourist Attractions
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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.
Cathedral
The Carlisle Cathedral was originally the church of an Augustinian priory founded in 1102, and was made the see of a bishop by Henry I in 1133. The south transept and the two bays of the nave are Norman (1123). The beautiful choir was rebuilt in the Decorated style after a fire in 1292, but was not completed until 1362. The north transept and central tower, destroyed in a later fire, were rebuilt between 1400 and 1419. The great east window in the choir is particularly fine. Completed in 1380 and measuring 62ft/19m by 33ft/10m, it comprises a Doom, or representation of the Last Judgment. The choir stalls, with 46misericords, date from 1400 to 1433 and are carved with scenes from the lives of saints. The delicately carved capitals of the Early English style pillars depict the labors of the months. The nave suffered serious damage in the 17th century and was shortened. The oak pulpit dates from 1599. Sir Walter Scott was married in the cathedral in 1797.
Cathedral Precinct
In the Cathedral precinct are a gatehouse of 1527, a tower of 1510, a number of Georgian houses and the Chapter Library in the Fratry, a superb early 14th century hall which was remodeled about 1500.
Market Place
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.
Town Hall
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.
Guild Hall
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.
Castle Street
Between the Market Place and the Castle, both Castle Street and Fisher Street contain many fine Georgian houses.
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
Tullie House in Castle Street is of particular interest. Built in 1689 in the Jacobean Renaissance style, by a family of German extraction who originally arrived in England to work in the Keswick gold and silver mines, the house became a museum and art school in 1893. Between 1989 and 1991 it was completely restored, a new wing being added at the same time.The Museum possesses a comprehensive collection of prehistoric and Roman finds from the Border area, documents relating to the many battles fought between the English and the Scots from the 14th to the 17th centuries, and an exhibition specifically devoted to Bonnie Prince Charlie and 1745, a year of great significance in the nation's history. There is also a well presented collection of the region's flora and fauna.The adjoining Art Gallery contains some 2,000 works (17th-20th centuries) including paintings by Paul Nash, Sam Bough and Peter Blake.
Carlisle Castle
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.
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.
City Walls
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.
Citadel
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.
Wetheral Priory Gatehouse
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.
Carnival
This festival takes place in late June.
City Festival
This festival takes place in late August.
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