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Carlisle Castle

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Carlisle Castle is in the centre of Carlisle in Cumbria northwest England.

This Castle was built from stone from 1122, along with a Wall that runs around the City centre, about one and a half miles of Wall. There is an entrance fee, and a further fee to visit the Military Museum as well. Postcode: CA3 8UR

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The image top is from the Footbridge leading from the City centre across to Carlisle Castle.

The main attraction is the Castle Tower with Cannon all around. The top of the Tower gives great views for miles around and over Carlisle.

You can explore the Tower interior at your own pace with many notice boards giving the Castle history.

The King's Own Border Regiment Museum is in the centre of the complex, with many exhibits showing the evolution of the Army over the centuries.

Carlisle Castle History

1080s - the earliest Fortification was built on this site for William II, son of William the Conqueror, a wooden Fort building.

There were ongoing Battles between the Scottish and English for this area, with Hadrian's Wall passing close to the Castle. Little remains of Hadrian's Wall or Roman buildings.

From 1122 - a stone Castle was built here for Henry I of England, along with a Wall that runs around the Old City, about one and a half miles in distance.

1135 - the Scots took control of Carlisle and the Castle, at a time when Scotland and England were fighting over the Border between the two Countries.

1157 - Henry II of England regained control of Carlisle and the Castle.

1216 - Carlisle and the Castle were captured by the Scots of King Alexander II. The Scots only held the Castle for a few months.

1296 - John Comyn led his Scottish forces in an attack on Carlisle and the Castle. The Guardian of Carlisle Castle, Robert de Brus, managed to defend the Castle, then force the Scots back over the Border.

Robert de Brus was a Borders area Noble, who normally fought on the side of the English. He married the widow Marjorie of Carrick, southwest Scotland, in 1271.

The son of Robert de Brus and Marjorie of Carrick, Robert the Bruce, became King of Scotland during the Scottish Wars of Independence from 1296 - 1328.

1315 - King Robert the Bruce of Scotland led his forces to Carlisle. The City and Castle managed to withstand that attack.

The following 300 years see Carlisle Castle used by the English to control the Borders area, keeping the Scottish forces from taking over English land.

1642 - the English Civil War broke out with Carlisle backing the Royalists.

1644 - a Scots Army working with the Parliamentarians, took control of the City after an eight month siege.

1651 - The end of the Civil War with a Parliamentarian victory, allowed repairs to the war damage Castle and Town.

1745 - Jacobite forces loyal to Prince Charles Edward Stuart, captured Carlisle Castle and the City.

1745 December - English troops forced the Scots out of Carlisle, one of the last Battles between the English and Scots in England.

1746 16th April - Battle of Culloden, by Inverness northern Scotland, saw the Jacobite forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated by the Loyalist Troops of George I, the last Battle on the British mainland.

Since 1746 - Carlisle Castle has been used to house the Military such as the Border Regiment, King's Own Royal Border Regiment, and Territorial Army.

2014 - Cumbria‘s Museum of Military Life was opened in the centre of Carlisle Castle, covering 300 years of courage, loyalty and service, with exhibits and interactive displays.

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