Drumburgh Castle

Drumburgh Castle stands in the village of Drumburgh near Bowness in Cumbria. It is a Grade I-listed medieval pele tower, built on the site of a former Hadrian’s Wall tower. Robert le Brun constructed the first pele tower here in 1307 using red sandstone taken from the wall. Thomas Dacre rebuilt the structure in 1518, creating what contemporaries called a ‘house of strength’. John Alglionby altered the building again between 1678 and 1681, giving it the design seen today. The castle’s history is visible in its stonework and decorations. A first-floor doorway and staircase were added later, featuring the Dacre coat of arms. Parts of a Roman shrine are also built into the walls, showing layers of use over centuries. The pele tower was originally meant as a defensive refuge, but later changes turned it into a more comfortable residence. Visitors find a compact but striking building with thick stone walls and a distinctive entrance. The Roman and medieval elements in the masonry tell stories of the site’s long past. The castle sits quietly in a small village, offering a glimpse of England’s borderland history. Its modest size belies the strength and craftsmanship of its builders. The surviving features make it a rare example of a pele tower adapted over time.