Appleby Castle

Appleby Castle stands in Appleby-in-Westmorland above the River Eden. A 12th-century keep called Caesar’s Tower and a later mansion share a walled courtyard. The keep and mansion are both Grade I listed, while the uninhabited parts form a scheduled ancient monument. The curtain walls enclose several buildings that show different centuries of building. The castle overlooks the town from its elevated position beside the river. The castle was begun by Ranulf le Meschin early in the 12th century. In 1174 it was surrendered to William the Lion of Scotland without a fight. Robert de Clifford acquired it in 1264 through marriage and his family held it for nearly four hundred years. Lady Anne Clifford restored the castle after a siege in 1648 and made it her home. The Earls of Thanet later turned the hall into a classical mansion. Denis Vernon lived here from 1973 to 1990 and created a rare breeds centre. Visitors walk through the battlemented gateway into the courtyard. Caesar’s Tower rises four storeys in grey stone, while the house has two wings at right angles. A round tower and a square tower mark the corners of the main buildings. Lady Anne’s Beehouse in the grounds is a small square stone building with a pyramid roof. The sandstone walls and North Lodge add to the historic setting. Views from the castle look down over the town and the river valley.