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Historic England Research Records

Triermain Castle

Hob Uid: 12607
Location :
Cumbria
Carlisle
Waterhead
Grid Ref : NY5947066810
Summary : An enclosure castle; the castle stands on a small glacial mound and is quadrangular in plan with towers on the east and west sides. It was surrounded by a curtain wall and flanked by a moat. The upstanding remains of the monument include the ruins of an internal building and a fragment of the gatehouse to the rear. The main internal building measured c22m by 21m, but only a corner survives. The moat has been partially filled in and measures up to 5m wide and 1m deep where it survives. Masonry from Hadrian's Wall was used to build the castle. The date of construction is uncertain, the land was granted in 1157 and a licence to crenellate was possibly granted to this site in 1340. Described as ruinous in 1580.
More information : [NY 5947 6681] Castle [GT] (Remains of) (1)

No definite documentary information until the end of the 16th century; the fragmentary remains of the castle probably date from about the 14th century. It seems to have been quadrangular in plan, measuring about 73' by 69', with towers at the eastern and western ends. To the west are fragments which may represent a gatehouse, and at the foot of the mound on the west side are remains of another, less substantial, building. There are traces of a moat on the south and east sides. (2-3)

The castle has been built upon a pronounced, sub-rectangular, scarped natural hillock, approximately 4.2m high, at the NW end of a slight ridge. It is doubtful whether the alleged moat was ever a continuous enclosing feature, as it is only evident at the SE angle, cutting through the slight ridge at its most vulnerable side. Now much-mutilated by a drainage channel and cattle, it still reaches a maximum depth of 1.5 m at the angle, but diminishes to ground level to the N and W. At the centre of the mound, the only surviving fragment of the castle is the SE angle of a tower, which stands almost to its original height. The S wall of this tower has a pronounced batter, and within the angle are traces of a newel staircase. The ground surface is generally disturbed by buried foundations, and fragments of fallen masonry. See photographs. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (4)

NY 59466680 Enclosure castle known as Triermain Castle. The monument stands on a small glacial mound and is quadrangular in plan with towers on the east and west sides. It was surrounded by a curtain wall and flanked by a moat. The upstanding remains of the monument include the ruins of an internal building and a fragment of the gatehouse to the rear. The main internal building measured c22m by 21m, but only a corner survives. The moat has been partially filled in and measures up to 5m wide and 1m deep where it survives. Masonry from Hadrian's Wall was used to build the castle. The date of construction is uncertain, the land was granted in 1157 and a licence to crenellate was possibly granted to this site in 1340; scheduled. (5)

Listed by Cathcart King. Described as ruinous in 1580. (6)

Listed with plan and illustration. (7)

Part of the moat, the masonry remains and other slight earthworks associated with this castle are visible on aerial photographs.(8)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1957
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Figs. :
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : (W T McIntire)
Page(s) : 247-54
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Plates :
Vol(s) : 26, 1926
Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : (T H B Graham)
Page(s) : 250-4
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Plates :
Vol(s) : 11, 1911
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : F1 DS 30-JUN-72
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Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : 20-Nov-95
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Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 91
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Plates :
Vol(s) : Jan-83
Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 175
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : vol.29
Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : RAF 106G/UK/1398 3300 10-Apr-1946
Page(s) :
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : 14th century
Monument End Date : 1399
Monument Start Date : 1300
Monument Type : Castle, Quadrangular Castle, Moat, Curtain Wall
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CU 368
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 27695
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 8346
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 56 NE 2
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1972-06-30
End Date : 1972-06-30
Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2008-12-31