Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Egremont Castle
Hob Uid: 8824
Location : Cumbria Copeland Egremont
Grid Ref : NY0097010460
Summary : Now ruinous, the castle was originally established in circa 1120 by Walter de Meshines as a motte and bailey, though the earliest surviving architectural work dates from the mid-12th century with later additions and alterations. Scheduled and listed.
More information : [NY 0097 1046] Castle [GT] (Remains of) (1) Egremont Castle was built in the early 12th cent. the present remains consisting of an outer bailey, a square gateway tower, and on the west three small gateways of later date than the main castle. Opposite the latter is an artificial mound. (2) Scheduled. (3) Surveyed at 1/2500. (4) Egremont Castle grade 1. (5) Egremont Castle Castle. Mid C12 with later additions and alterations. 1st castle established by Walter de Meschines c1120; west wall and gatehouse earliest surviving work (mid C12). Sandstone blocks on chamfered plinth; west wall incorporates extensive sections of herringbone masonry and retains some embrasures. Keep, to north end of mound, with courtyard; all ruinous. West gateway has round-headed entrance arch; internally, a column in each corner carries remains of domical rib-vault. South wall of keep rebuilt mid C13; doorway on left retains portcullis and draw-bar slots. For plan and detailed description see Knowles and Jackson in Transactions of Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society, Old Series Vol. 6, pp 162A-D. Scheduled Ancient Monument. (6) NY 010105 Egremont Castle; scheduled. (7) Report on the limited excavations undertaken in the motte and bailey areas to establish how much of the archaeological deposits have survived. (8) Main events in the castle's history recorded by Cathcart King. (9) NY 00981049. The remains of Egremont Castle. Originally a motte and bailey castle, it developed into an enclosure castle during the medieval period. The site comprises a large artificial mound with an enclosed associated bailey. A ditch on the west side separates the mound from the lower castle garth which runs round the western, northern and eastern sides of the motte and bailey. The original castle dates from c1120. In the late 12th/early 13th century a stone curtain wall was constructed around the foot of the motte, enclosing the bailey. The west ditch was dug and an outer gatehouse added. At approximately the same time, the timber keep on the motte was replaced by a stone structure known as the Juliet Tower. The ditch between the motte and the bailey was infilled and stone buildings were erected within the bailey, including a great hall. The curtain wall was heightened in the mid 14th century. The castle had been abandoned by the 1570s, though one building was still in use, as a courthouse. Scheduled and listed. (10) Illustrations of 1665, 1739, 1815, and 1822 show that there was a shell keep on the motte. Illustrations and plan. (11)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" Prov 1956
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 191
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Vol(s) : 57 - 1957

Source Number : 10
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Source details : EH Scheduling amendment, 11-FEB-2002
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Source Number : 11
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Source details :
Page(s) : 102-3
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Vol(s) : vol.29

Source Number : 3
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Source details : AMs England and Wales 1961 (MOW)
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : F1 RL 01-MAY-61
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : MHLG (Prov List) Ennerdale RD Cumberland May 1966
Page(s) : 6
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : DOE Listed Buildings Borough of Copeland Cumbria Aug 1984
Page(s) : 10
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Source Number : 6a
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Source details : (Knowles and Jackson)
Page(s) : 162
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Vol(s) : 6

Source Number : 7
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Source details : English Heritage SAM List Cumbria
Page(s) : 16
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : (P Turnbull and D Walsh)
Page(s) : 77-89
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Vol(s) : 94 - 1994

Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 86
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Vol(s) : Jan-83

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Built c1120
Monument End Date : 1140
Monument Start Date : 1100
Monument Type : Motte And Bailey
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Circa late C12th/early C13th
Monument End Date : 1232
Monument Start Date : 1167
Monument Type : Castle, Curtain Wall, Gatehouse, Postern, Great Hall, Kitchen, Shell Keep
Evidence : Ruined Building, Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Heightened mid C14th
Monument End Date : 1366
Monument Start Date : 1333
Monument Type : Castle, Curtain Wall
Evidence : Structure

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : From 1570s until 1786
Monument End Date : 1786
Monument Start Date : 1570
Monument Type : Court House
Evidence :

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 34977
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Cumbria)
External Cross Reference Number : 3051
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 76123
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 8382
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 01 SW 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1961-05-01
End Date : 1961-05-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1991-01-01
End Date : 1991-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2000-01-01
End Date : 2000-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2004-01-01
End Date : 2004-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Egremont Castle