Piel Castle

Piel Castle stands on Piel Island, a small island off the Furness Peninsula in north-west England. The castle was built in the early 14th century by John Cockerham, the Abbot of Furness Abbey, to oversee trade through the local harbour and protect against Scottish raids. It consists of a large keep with inner and outer baileys, constructed using stones from the local beach. The castle’s history includes use by the Yorkist pretender Lambert Simnel in 1487 and later falling into ruin by the 16th century. Sea erosion has long threatened the castle, with significant damage occurring in the early 19th century.

The castle is worth visiting for its layered history and architectural significance. It was restored in the 1870s by the Duke of Buccleuch to protect it from further erosion, and later gifted to the town of Barrow-in-Furness. English Heritage now cares for the site, which is protected as a grade I listed building. Archaeological surveys have revealed details of its medieval occupation and guided restoration work. The castle’s story includes periods of smuggling, royal intervention, and even a poem by William Wordsworth inspired by its ruins.

Visitors find a striking ruin with parts of the keep and baileys still standing despite erosion. The keep, once a residential tower, features large windows and a carved female figure above the entrance arch. The inner and outer baileys, though damaged, show the castle’s concentric design with thick stone walls and protective ditches. A small stone chapel in the outer bailey adds to the site’s intrigue, though its original purpose remains unknown. The surrounding island, much reduced by the sea, offers a stark reminder of the castle’s ongoing struggle against coastal erosion.