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Egremont Castle, Egremont
Egremont Castle
Egermond Castle
locality:-   Egremont
civil parish:-   Egremont (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   castle
locality type:-   motte and bailey
coordinates:-   NY00981048
1Km square:-   NY0010
10Km square:-   NY01

photograph
BQN65.jpg (taken 11.5.2009)  
photograph
BLY69.jpg (taken 24.4.2006)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 72 7) 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
evidence:-   old map:- Ogilby 1675 (plate 96) 
source data:-   Road strip map, hand coloured engraving, the Road from Kendal to Cockermouth, and the Road from Egremond to Carlisle, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by John Ogilby, London, 1675.
image
OG96Bm00.jpg
In mile 0, Cumberland.  "ye Castle"
a castle on a hill, on left of road, at the near (south) end of Egremont. 
item:-  JandMN : 22
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map, descriptive text:- Bowen 1720 (plate 261) 
source data:-   Road strip map, uncoloured engraving, pl.261, the end of the road from Kendal to Cockermouth and the road from Egremont to Carlisle, scale about 2 miles to 1 inch, published by Emanuel Bowen, St Katherines, London, 1720.
image
B261m00.jpg
"The Castle"
"Egremond Is noted for its stately Castle, ye Ancient Seat of y Ld. Copeland."
Drawn with towers. 
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.36
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Buck 1739
placename:-  Egremont Castle
item:-  Barony of Copeland; Barony of Egremont
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South West View of Egremont Castle, in the County of Cumberland, drawn and engraved by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, published 1739.
image  click to enlarge
BU0206.jpg
printed, top  "THE SOUTH-WEST VIEW OF EGREMONT-CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND."
printed, bottom  "THIS castle was built soon after ye Conquest, by William de Meschines Brother of Ranulph ye first Earl of Cumberland, who gave Him the Barony of Copeland, in wch. He was confirm'd by K. Hen. I. when that Barony was changed to ye Barony of Egremont. From Him, for want of Male Issue, it pass'd successively to ye Lucies, Moltons, Fitz-Walters, & Radcliffs Els. of Sussex. In ye reign of K. H. VI. Sr. Thos. Percy was created Baron of Egremont, & tho' He left no Issue, ye Barony remain'd in ye Famly. of ye Percies Els. of Northumberld. till Josceline ye last El. who left only a Daughter, married to His Grace Charles Seymour, ye prest. Duke of Somerset who is, in Her Rt., possess'd of ye sd. Castle. / Saml. &Nathl. Buck delin: et Sculp. Publish'd according to Act of Parliament March 26. 1739. - 1. Egremont"
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.67.6
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Simpson 1746
source data:-   Atlas, three volumes of maps and descriptive text published as 'The Agreeable Historian, or the Compleat English Traveller ...', by Samuel Simpson, 1746.
image SMP4P181, button  goto source
"..."
"... its [Egremont's] Castle, seated upon a sharp-topt Hill, built by William de Meschines, Brother of Ranulph, first Earl of Cumberland. ..."
evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
source data:-   New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin, published by T Bowles, John Bowles and Son, Robert Sayer, and John Tinney, 1760; published 1751-87.
"The Cas"
circle and flag 
evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29 Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774.
image
D4NY01SW.jpg
"Castle"
no symbol 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Egre Castle
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93.
image CL13P094, button  goto source
Page 94:-  "..."
"Ranulph gave to his brother, William Meschiens, Copeland and Derwent-Fells, ... This William Meschiens built a house near the middle of this estate, upon a hill near to a little rivulet called Egre or Egen, which was called Egre-Castle or Egremont-Castle; its situation commands a view of a great part of the Irish Channel, and he made choice of it, perhaps the better to observe the Irish and Scots invaders, ..."
evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93.
image CL13P105, button  goto source
Page 105:-  "..."
"I do not find any ancient authors mention a castle here [Castlerigg], Speed, who speaks of twenty-five in Cumberland, hath found out every one I ever heard or knew of, except Kirkoswald; how that has escaped him I cannot tell. I shall here put down their names, and, as well as I can, their most ancient owners, and supposed founders."
"..."
image CL13P106, button  goto source
Page 106:-  "..."
"24. EGREMONT. William de Meschiens."
"..."
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.
image CAM2P169, button  goto source
Page 169:-  "..."
"... Scarce a mile from hence stands on a hill Egremont castle, the antient seat of William de Meschines, to whom Henry I. gave it "by the service of one knight's fee, that he should march at the king's command in the army against Wales and Scotland." He left a daughter married to William Fitz Duncan of the blood royal of Scotland, by whose daughter the estate came into the family of the Lucies. From them again by the Moltons and Fitz Walters the title of Egremont came to the Radcliffes earls of Sussex. It was however enjoyed for a considerable time by favour of Henry VI. by Thomas Percy, who had summons to parliament by the style of Thomas Percy of Egremont."
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.
image CAM2P180, button  goto source
Page 180:-  "..."
""Egermont, south from Cokermouth, longith to the lord Fitzwalter, and standith by the market town of Egremont.""
"Egremont castle passed from the Meschines to the Lucys, of whom Maud, only sister and heir of Anthony lord Lucy before-mentioned, married Henry Percy first earl of Northumberland, in whose male line it continued till Elizabeth sole daughter and heiress of Joceline last earl of Northumberland of that line, married Charles duke of Somerset 1682, and transferred it to his family. Their son Algernon was created 1749 earl of Egremont with remainder to his nephew sir Charles Wyndham, who succeeded to the title on his decease 1750, and was succeeded 1763 by his son George, present and 2d earl of Egremont. The town of Egremont once sent members to Parliament."
evidence:-   old text:- Capper 1808
item:-  court
source data:-   Gazetteer, A Topographical Dictionary of the United Kingdom, compiled by Benjamin Pitts Capper, published by Richard Phillips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, 1808; published 1808-29.
image CAP120, button  goto source
"[Egremont] ... On a remarkable eminence are the ruins of a castle, mostly gone to decay, so much only being preserved as is sufficient for the earl of Egremont to hold a court in, it giving that title to the Wyndham family. ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.
image FD01Pr10, button  goto source
"... The Norman conquerors, however, seem to have left this tract [The Lakes] wholly to itself: all the remains of the castles being found on the outskirts, as Egremont, Cockermouth, Brougham, and Kendal. ..."
image FD01P075, button  goto source
Page 75:-  "..."
"[Egremont] ... The castle, situated upon a rising ground, flanked on the south by the Ehen, was pro-"
image FD01P076, button  goto source
Page 76:-  "[pro]bably built by William de Meschiens, first lord of the barony of Copeland, to which he was presented by his brother Ranulph, who held Cumberland and Westmorland under William the Conqueror. Little of it remains at present. The principal part is the keep. The arch of the gate-way is the horse-shoe arch, and its groining is by plain cross-springers. The outward wall has, from its base upwards, ten courses of herring-boned work. The other arches which remain are three in number, pointed and covered with ivy. But within these few years, this building has suffered more from wanton spoliation than from the ravages of time. ..."
evidence:-   old text:- Martineau 1855
item:-  Horn of Egremont; murder; horn
item:-  echoes; murder; horn, Egremont
source data:-   Guide book, A Complete Guide to the English Lakes, by Harriet Martineau, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Whittaker and Co, London, 1855; published 1855-76.
image MNU1P125, button  goto source
Page 125:-  "[it was at the] gateway of Egremont Castle that the horn was hung, in crusading days, which was twice blown by the gallant Sir Eustace de Lacy. As the Cumberlanders tell, Sir Eustace and his brother Hubert rode forth together to the Holy Wars; and Sir Eustace blew the horn, saying to his brother, "If I fall in Palestine, do thou return and blow this horn, and take possession; that Egremont may not be without a Lacy for its Lord." In Palestine, ambition of this lordship so took possession of Hubert, that he hired ruffians to drown his brother in the Jordan: and the ruffians assured him that the deed was done. He returned home, and stole into the castle by night,- not daring to sound the horn. But he soon plucked up spirit, and drowned his remorse in revels. In the midst of a banquet, one day, the horn was heard, sounding such a blast that the echoes came back from the fells, after startling the red deer from his covert, and the wild boar from his drinking at the tarn. Hubert knew that none but Eustace could or would so sound the horn: and he fled by a postern while his brother Eustace entered by the gate. Long after, the wretched Hubert came to ask forgiveness from his brother; and having obtained it, retired to a convent, where he practised penance until he died. The ruins of this castle stand on an eminence to the west of the town."
evidence:-   old print:- Bradley 1901
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured lithograph, Egremont Castle, Egremont, Cumberland, by Joseph Pennell, published by Macmillan and Co, London, 1901.
image  click to enlarge
BRL135.jpg
On page 164 of Highways and Byways in the Lake District, by A G Bradley. 
printed at bottom:-  "Egremont Castle."
item:-  JandMN : 464.35
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Egremont Castle
item:-  brickwork; herring bone brickwork
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Egremont Castle, the Curtain Wall, Egremont, Cumberland, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
image  click to enlarge
CW0124.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.135 of The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen. 
printed at bottom:-  "EGREMONT CASTLE: THE CURTAIN WALL."
item:-  Armitt Library : A782.24
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"EGREMONT CASTLE / / GREEN DYKES / EGREMONT / COPELAND / CUMBRIA / I / 76123 / NY0096810454"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Castle. Mid C12 with later additions and alterations. 1st castle established by Walter de Meschines c1120; west wall and gatehouse earliest surviving work (mid C12). Sandstone blocks on chamfered plinth; west wall incorporates extensive sections of herringbone masonry and retains some embrasures. Keep, to north end of mound, with courtyard; all ruinous. West gateway has round-headed entrance arch; internally, a column in each corner carries remains of domical rib-vault. South wall of keep rebuilt mid C13; doorway on left retains portcullis and draw-bar slots. For plan and detailed description see Knowles and Jackson in Transactions of Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian &Archaeological Society, Old Series Vol. 6, pp 162A-D. Scheduled Ancient Monument."
evidence:-   old print:- Linton 1852
placename:-  Egremont Castle
item:-  train
source data:-   Print, engraving, Egremont Castle, Cumberland, drawn by R Shepherd, engraved by W H Lizars, Edinburgh, published by Whittaker and Co, London, and by R Gibson and Son and by Callander and Dixon, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1852.
image  click to enlarge
LN1E05.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.36 of A Handbook of the Whitehaven and Furness Railway, by John Linton. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "R. Shepherd delt. / W. H. Lizars sc. / EGREMONT CASTLE."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1158.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Egremont Castle, Cumberland, drawn by R Shepherd, perhaps published by Whittaker and Co, London, et al, 1852.
image  click to enlarge
PR0277.jpg
Perhaps plate 4 in A Handbook of the Whitehaven and Furness Railway? 
printed at bottom left, centre:-  "R. Shepherd delt. / EGREMONT CASTLE"
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.277
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35 (vol.3 no.52) 
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Egremont, from the Ravenglass Road, Cumberland, drawn by G Pickering, engraved by W Taylor, published by Fisher, Son and Co, London, 1835.
image  click to enlarge
PR0051.jpg
vol.3 pl.51 in the set of prints, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland Illustrated. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "G. Pickering. / [W. Taylor.] / EGREMONT, FROM THE RAVENGLASS ROAD, CUMBERLAND. / FISHER, SON &CO. LONDON, 1835."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.51
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print with text:- Hearne and Byrne 1786
source data:-   Print, engraving, Egremont Castle, drawn by Thomas Hearne, engraved by William Byrne and Samuel Middiman, published by T Hearne and W Byrne, London, 1786.
image  click to enlarge
BMZ03.jpg
Plate 7 ?from the Antiquities of Great Britain, published 1786-1807; with descriptive text:-  "EGREMONT CASTLE"
"Is situated upon the top of an hill or mount near the river Egan (now corruptly called End), from which it is supposed to have derived its name, i.e. Ege-er-mont."
"Ranulph de Meschines, the first Earl of Chester of that name, to whom the Conqueror had given the whole county of Cumberland, granted the great barony of Coupland, which contained all the land betwixt the rivers Dudene and Darwent, to William de Meschines his brother; who thereupon seated himself at Egremont, where he built the Castle, and made it the head of his barony; from whence all the lands within the district of Coupland were held of the Castle in Egremont."
"He married Cecily de Romely, lady of the honour or manor of Skipton in Yorkshire, and had issue Alice de Romely, who in respect of the great estate she inherited from her mother, retained her name."
"She married William Fitz-Duncan, Earl of Murray in Scotland, and had three daughters, co-heiresses, of which Amabel the second married Reginald de Lucy, and had for her portion the Castle and Barony of Egremont."
"From the De Lucys' by an heiress, they descended to the Percys Earls of Northumberland, who held them till the last century, when that great House expired in an heir-female married to Charles Seymour, Duke of Somerset; who settled Egremont upon his grandson, Sir Charles Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham, in the county of Somerset, Baronet. In the year 1749, Algernon Seymour, Duke of Somerset, son of Charles, was created Earl of Egremont, with limitation of that honour to his nephew the said Sir Charles Wyndham, Baronet, and dying the year following, Sir Charles accordingly succeeded thereto, and was father of George the present Earl."
"This castle, though not of great extent, appears from the present remains to have been a place of considerable strength. The Print shows the approach from the south, which was the principal entrance by a draw-bridge over a deep moat, which surrounded the Castle: the access is by a gateway surmounted by a strong tower. The walls enclosed a considerable area, forming a square, but are now so much decayed, that no conjecture can be made in what manner they were guarded. On the side next the town a postern is now standing. To the west from the area, there is an ascent to three narrow gates, standing in a line, which had a communication with some out-works; these are apparently of more modern architecture than the tower and gate-way before mentioned; they were defended by a portcullis to each gate, and communicated with a circular tower which fell down a few years since. This tower was erected on a remarkable mole or mount, seventy-eight feet perpendicular above the ditch."
"The circular arch over the entrance, and the manner of building the lower part of the wall, seem to indicate, that this castle was raised on a foundation of more remote origin than the Norman invasion."
"This view was taken in 1777."
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.40
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Lowther 1780s-90s
source data:-   Print, engraving, South West View of Egremont Castle, Cumberland now Cumbria, late 18th century.
image  click to enlarge
BMZ78.jpg
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.41
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South West View of Egremont Castle, Cumberland, about 1769.
image  click to enlarge
PR0185.jpg
Included in vol.3 p.6 of a set of castle pictures? 
printed at bottom:-  "The South West View of Egremont Castle, in the County of Cumberland."
printed at top left of page:-  "Vol.III pa.6."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.185
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Buck 1739/1837 (edn 1877) 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South West View of Egremont Castle, in the County of Cumberland, drawn and engraved by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, 1739, reprinted by Hudson Scott and Sons, Carlisle, Cumberland, 1877.
image  click to enlarge
BU0118.jpg
With descriptive text of 1837. 
No.18 in The Castles, Abbeys, and Priories of the County of Cumberland, 1877. 
printed at top:-  "THE SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF EGREMONT-CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND."
printed at lower left:-  "To the Right Honble: Algernon Earl of Hartford, Son & Heir Apparent to his Grace the Duke of Somerset & Baron Percy Ld. Lieutenent & Custos Rotulorum of ye County of Sussex Captain of the second Troop of Horse, Guard, Governor of Tynemouth Castle, and of the Island of Minorca &c. This PROSPECT is humbly Inscrib'd by his Lordships most Obedt. Servants: Saml. &Nathl. Buck."
printed at lower right:-  "THIS Castle was built soon after ye Conquest, by William de Meschines Brother of Ranulph ye first Earl of Cumberland, who gave Him the barony of Copeland, in wch. He was confirm'd by K. Hen. I. when that Barony was changed to ye Barony of Egremont. From him, for want of Male Issue, it pass'd successively to ye Lucies, Moltons, Fitz-Walters, & Radcliffs Els. of Sussex. In ye Reign of K. H. VI. Sr, Thos. Percy was created Baron of Egremont, & tho' He left no Issue, ye Barony remain'd in ye Famly. of ye Percies Els. of Northumberld. tilll Joceline ye last El. who left only a Daughter, married to His Grace Charles Seymour, ye present Duke of Somerset who is in Her Rt. possess'd of ye Castle. Saml. &Nathl. Buck delin: et sculp: Publish'd according to Act of Parliament March 26. 1739."
item:-  JandMN : 178.18
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Linton 1852
placename:-  Egremont Castle
item:-  train
source data:-   Print, engraving, Egremont Castle, Cumberland, drawn by R Shepherd, engraved by W H Lizars, Edinburgh, published by Whittaker and Co, London, and by R Gibson and Son and by Callander and Dixon, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1852.
image  click to enlarge
LN1E05.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.36 of A Handbook of the Whitehaven and Furness Railway, by John Linton. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "R. Shepherd delt. / W. H. Lizars sc. / EGREMONT CASTLE."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1158.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Egremont Castle, Cumberland, drawn by R Shepherd, perhaps published by Whittaker and Co, London, et al, 1852.
image  click to enlarge
PR0277.jpg
Perhaps plate 4 in A Handbook of the Whitehaven and Furness Railway? 
printed at bottom left, centre:-  "R. Shepherd delt. / EGREMONT CASTLE"
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.277
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35 (vol.3 no.52) 
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Egremont, from the Ravenglass Road, Cumberland, drawn by G Pickering, engraved by W Taylor, published by Fisher, Son and Co, London, 1835.
image  click to enlarge
PR0051.jpg
vol.3 pl.51 in the set of prints, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland Illustrated. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "G. Pickering. / [W. Taylor.] / EGREMONT, FROM THE RAVENGLASS ROAD, CUMBERLAND. / FISHER, SON &CO. LONDON, 1835."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.51
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print with text:- Hearne and Byrne 1786
source data:-   Print, engraving, Egremont Castle, drawn by Thomas Hearne, engraved by William Byrne and Samuel Middiman, published by T Hearne and W Byrne, London, 1786.
image  click to enlarge
BMZ03.jpg
Plate 7 ?from the Antiquities of Great Britain, published 1786-1807; with descriptive text:-  "EGREMONT CASTLE"
"Is situated upon the top of an hill or mount near the river Egan (now corruptly called End), from which it is supposed to have derived its name, i.e. Ege-er-mont."
"Ranulph de Meschines, the first Earl of Chester of that name, to whom the Conqueror had given the whole county of Cumberland, granted the great barony of Coupland, which contained all the land betwixt the rivers Dudene and Darwent, to William de Meschines his brother; who thereupon seated himself at Egremont, where he built the Castle, and made it the head of his barony; from whence all the lands within the district of Coupland were held of the Castle in Egremont."
"He married Cecily de Romely, lady of the honour or manor of Skipton in Yorkshire, and had issue Alice de Romely, who in respect of the great estate she inherited from her mother, retained her name."
"She married William Fitz-Duncan, Earl of Murray in Scotland, and had three daughters, co-heiresses, of which Amabel the second married Reginald de Lucy, and had for her portion the Castle and Barony of Egremont."
"From the De Lucys' by an heiress, they descended to the Percys Earls of Northumberland, who held them till the last century, when that great House expired in an heir-female married to Charles Seymour, Duke of Somerset; who settled Egremont upon his grandson, Sir Charles Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham, in the county of Somerset, Baronet. In the year 1749, Algernon Seymour, Duke of Somerset, son of Charles, was created Earl of Egremont, with limitation of that honour to his nephew the said Sir Charles Wyndham, Baronet, and dying the year following, Sir Charles accordingly succeeded thereto, and was father of George the present Earl."
"This castle, though not of great extent, appears from the present remains to have been a place of considerable strength. The Print shows the approach from the south, which was the principal entrance by a draw-bridge over a deep moat, which surrounded the Castle: the access is by a gateway surmounted by a strong tower. The walls enclosed a considerable area, forming a square, but are now so much decayed, that no conjecture can be made in what manner they were guarded. On the side next the town a postern is now standing. To the west from the area, there is an ascent to three narrow gates, standing in a line, which had a communication with some out-works; these are apparently of more modern architecture than the tower and gate-way before mentioned; they were defended by a portcullis to each gate, and communicated with a circular tower which fell down a few years since. This tower was erected on a remarkable mole or mount, seventy-eight feet perpendicular above the ditch."
"The circular arch over the entrance, and the manner of building the lower part of the wall, seem to indicate, that this castle was raised on a foundation of more remote origin than the Norman invasion."
"This view was taken in 1777."
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.40
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Lowther 1780s-90s
source data:-   Print, engraving, South West View of Egremont Castle, Cumberland now Cumbria, late 18th century.
image  click to enlarge
BMZ78.jpg
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.41
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South West View of Egremont Castle, Cumberland, about 1769.
image  click to enlarge
PR0185.jpg
Included in vol.3 p.6 of a set of castle pictures? 
printed at bottom:-  "The South West View of Egremont Castle, in the County of Cumberland."
printed at top left of page:-  "Vol.III pa.6."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.185
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Buck 1739/1837 (edn 1877) 
placename:-  Egremont Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South West View of Egremont Castle, in the County of Cumberland, drawn and engraved by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, 1739, reprinted by Hudson Scott and Sons, Carlisle, Cumberland, 1877.
image  click to enlarge
BU0118.jpg
With descriptive text of 1837. 
No.18 in The Castles, Abbeys, and Priories of the County of Cumberland, 1877. 
printed at top:-  "THE SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF EGREMONT-CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND."
printed at lower left:-  "To the Right Honble: Algernon Earl of Hartford, Son & Heir Apparent to his Grace the Duke of Somerset & Baron Percy Ld. Lieutenent & Custos Rotulorum of ye County of Sussex Captain of the second Troop of Horse, Guard, Governor of Tynemouth Castle, and of the Island of Minorca &c. This PROSPECT is humbly Inscrib'd by his Lordships most Obedt. Servants: Saml. &Nathl. Buck."
printed at lower right:-  "THIS Castle was built soon after ye Conquest, by William de Meschines Brother of Ranulph ye first Earl of Cumberland, who gave Him the barony of Copeland, in wch. He was confirm'd by K. Hen. I. when that Barony was changed to ye Barony of Egremont. From him, for want of Male Issue, it pass'd successively to ye Lucies, Moltons, Fitz-Walters, & Radcliffs Els. of Sussex. In ye Reign of K. H. VI. Sr, Thos. Percy was created Baron of Egremont, & tho' He left no Issue, ye Barony remain'd in ye Famly. of ye Percies Els. of Northumberld. tilll Joceline ye last El. who left only a Daughter, married to His Grace Charles Seymour, ye present Duke of Somerset who is in Her Rt. possess'd of ye Castle. Saml. &Nathl. Buck delin: et sculp: Publish'd according to Act of Parliament March 26. 1739."
item:-  JandMN : 178.18
Image © see bottom of page
 sundial

photograph
BLY70.jpg (taken 24.4.2006)  
photograph
BWK36.jpg (taken 16.5.2012)  
story:-  
 Built about 1135; gatehouse, curtain wall, ruins of domestic buildings.
The Horn of Egremont used to hang over the castle gate, and could only be blown by the true Lord of Egremont. The true lord, Sir Eustace de Lucy and his brother Hubert went to the Crusades. Hubert hired assassins to drown Eustace in the Jordan, and rode home to claim the estate. Sir Eustace, who had escaped, arrived back, and, as the true lord, blew the horn. Hubert made haste away ...
notes:-  
 motte and bailey, gateway, curtain walls, tower, moat

Perriam, D R &Robinson, J: 1998: Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria: CWAAS:: ISBN 1 873124 23 6; plan and illustrations
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