Castles of Cumbria: #1 Brougham Castle

So this is Brougham Castle, near Penrith in Cumbria. I'm told that it's pronounced "Broom", not the more intuitive "Bruffam". I'm glad I never had to ask directions for it, as I would have embarrassed myself.

Luckily, it's clearly visible right by the side of the A66 a couple of miles southeast of Penrith. You can't miss it. And it's well worth checking out if you like this sort of thing. You can even go up to the top of the keep via stairs.

I'd been wanting to visit this ruinous beauty for some time but you can only visit it between Easter and the end of summer.

The site is maintained by English Heritage, an admission fee may apply

The castle has been built on the corner of the platform of a former Roman Fort on a site overlooking the river Eamont. What is now the A66 has been a strategic East-West route of the Pennines for millenia and it is no surprise that there are various castles and forts dotted along the route and the adjacent Eden Valley: There are castles to be seen at Brough, Penrith, Appleby (not ruined, still occupied but in private hands) and various other obscure and enigmatic piles of rubble in the area.

Anyway, Brougham. Here are some photos I took:

Here, a poorly-dressed man can be seen, preventing people from entering the gatehouse. He seems to be pointing out the runners for the portcullis.











These medieval stonemasons certainly knew what they were doing:


The Keep:

This is a view from upstairs inside the keep, looking out towards one of the numerous arrow slits

Don't worry if you don't have a head for heights - there are railings! I presume there were floors in the olden days.


Note the well in the courtyard: Handy when you're being besieged by marauding Scots. Under normal circumstances, some nice running water from the nearby River Eamont will do the trick - ideal for thwarting cholera and all manner of delightful medieval diseases.



And at the bottom, looking up...


Mindless vandalism isn't the sole preserve of modern times. There are a number of places within the castle where graffiti has been carved into the stonework, very neatly in some instances:

The Great Hall:

Of course, by the Tudor era castles were, by and large, obsolete. As threats internal and external receded, the ruling classes preferred to live in grand houses and halls rather than draughty old castles. Brougham fell into ruin. That is until in one last hurrah, Brougham castle was actually restored by the amazing Lady Anne Clifford. It was only after she died that the castle finally fell into total decay.

Check out the Countess Pillar close to the castle right by the A66 on the westbound side.