Rose Castle

Rose Castle stands in the quiet parish of Dalston, Cumbria, as a fortified house with medieval roots. It served as the home of the bishops of Carlisle for nearly eight centuries, from 1230 until 2009. The castle is a Grade I listed building, recognised for its historical significance. Since 2016 it has housed the Rose Castle Foundation, a peace and reconciliation centre. The site blends centuries of change, from its original four irregular ranges to later alterations. The castle’s story includes key figures and moments. In about 1665 Bishop Edward Rainbowe remodelled the east and south ranges and rebuilt the chapel dating from 1487–49. Between 1828 and 1831 Bishop Hugh Percy commissioned architect Thomas Rickman to redesign the entrance chapel and west wing. Rickman also worked on the Strickland Tower, a pele tower attached by a short stretch of curtain wall. Visitors find a building shaped by time and purpose. The Strickland Tower dates from around 1300 or 1400 and still stands as part of the complex. The chapel from the late 15th century remains a focal point. The entrance chapel and west wing reflect the 19th-century remodelling by Rickman. The castle’s courtyard and curtain wall link these different periods. Today it offers a place for dialogue and reflection.