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Brough Castle, Brough
Brough Castle
locality:-   Church Brough
locality:-   Brough
civil parish:-   Brough (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   castle
coordinates:-   NY79171409
1Km square:-   NY7914
10Km square:-   NY71

photograph
BVC60.jpg (taken 29.7.2011)  
photograph
BVC59.jpg (taken 29.7.2011)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 16 15) 
placename:-  Brough Castle
placename:-  Caesar's Tower
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.
"Brough Castle / Ruions of / Caesar's Tower / Well"
evidence:-   old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  Burgh Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576, published 1579-1645.
image
Sax9NY71.jpg
Building with two towers, symbol for a castle.  "Burgh cast:"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?) 
placename:-  Burgh Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandia, Lancastria, Cestria etc, ie Westmorland, Lancashire, Cheshire etc, scale about 10.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, 1595, edition 1613-16.
image
MER5WmdA.jpg
"Burgh ca."
circle, building/s, tower, tinted red 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.3
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Burgh Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, The Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP14NY71.jpg
"Burgh Cast"
circle, buildings and tower 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   table of distances:- Simons 1635
placename:-  Burgh Castle
source data:-   Table of distances, uncoloured engraving, Westmerland ie Westmorland, with a thumbnail map, scale about 42 miles to 1 inch, by Mathew Simons, published in A Direction for the English Traviller, 1635.
image  click to enlarge
SIM3.jpg
"Burgh Castle N"
and tabulated distances; B on thumbnail map 
item:-  private collection : 50.39
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jansson 1646
placename:-  Burgh Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumbria and Westmoria, ie Cumberland and Westmorland, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Jansson, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1646.
image
JAN3NY71.jpg
"Burgh Cast."
Buildings and tower with flag. 
item:-  JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   hearth tax returns:- Hearth Tax 1675
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Records, hearth tax survey returns, Westmorland, 1674/75.
"Brough Castle"
in  "Brough"
evidence:-   old map:- Seller 1694 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Burgh Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 8 miles to 1 inch, by John Seller, 1694.
image  click to enlarge
SEL7.jpg
"Burgh Cast."
circle; castle 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.87
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Burgh Castle
placename:-  Vertara
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695.
image
MD10NY71.jpg
"Burgh Castle ol Vertara"
Circle. 
item:-  JandMN : 24
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Buck 1739
placename:-  Brough Castle
item:-  fire, Brough Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South East View of Brough Castle, in the County of Westmorland, drawn and engraved by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, published 1739.
image  click to enlarge
BU0220.jpg
printed, top  "THE SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF BROUGH-CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF WESTMORLAND."
printed, bottom  "BURGH or BROUGH Castle under Staine more, was casually consumed by Fire A.D.1521, and was rebuilt A.D.1661 by the Lady Anne Clifford, Countess/ Dowager of Pembroke, &c. sole Daughter & Heir of George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland, after having lain one hudred & forty Years desolate. The present Proprietor is ye Right Honble. the Earl of Thanet. / Saml. &Nathl. Buck delin: et Sculp: Publish'd according to Act of Parliamt. March 26. 1739."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.67.20
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 SMP3P7, button  goto source
Page 1025:-  "... [Church Brough] ... with a Castle and a small Fort called Caesar's Tower, the former of which being demolished, was rebuilt not very many Years ago by a Countess of Pembroke. ..."
evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland Divided into their Respective Wards, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin et al, published by T Bowles, Robert Sayer, and John Bowles, London, 1760.
image
BO18NY71.jpg
"Brough Castle"
circle and flag 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd) 
source data:-   Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas Jefferys, London, 1770.
image
J5NY71SE.jpg
castle 
item:-  National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Image © National Library of Scotland
evidence:-   old text:- Pennant 1773
item:-  Caesar's Tower
source data:-   Book, A Tour from Downing to Alston Moor, 1773, by Thomas Pennant, published by Edward Harding, 98 Pall Mall, London, 1801.
image PEN6p136, button  goto source
Pennant's Tour 1773, page 136  "... I cannot trace the founder of the present castle: from the square form of its towers, it was certainly of Norman origin, - probably very early, for in 1174 it was garrisoned by the English, and taken by William king of Scotland in an inroad made by him in the absence of our great monarch Henry, but which soon after lost him his liberty, being defeated and taken by some gallant leaders on his retreat from the siege of Alnwick. It had been a considerable place; some square towers remain; the Keep, called Caesar's Tower, is the most considerable. At one side of the castle are the ruins of a rounder, an addition it must have received long after its foundation. It had been protected by vast fosses; those on one side are double, and have between them a high space, possible the very site of the Roman Burgus. This castle was the property of Robert de Veteripont, and passed"
image PEN6p137, button  goto source
Pennant's Tour 1773, page 137  "through his descendants to the great family of Cliffords. Henry lord Clifford, surnamed the Shepherd, kept here a magnificent Christmas; soon after which, in 1521, it was accidentally burnt down, and continued in ruins till it was restored by his celebrated descendant Anne Clifford, as the inscription over the gate, (similar to that at Pendragon,) before it was taken down, recorded."
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) 
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 CAM2P157, button  goto source
Page 157:-  "..."
"... upper or church Brough (or Western), ... Here also stands the castle (a high square tower and not unlike Richmond castle), ... The castle having been burnt to the ground 1521, was rebuilt 1661 by the countess of Pembroke before-mentioned, and was again reduced to a ruin by Thomas earl of Thanet 1695. ..."
evidence:-   old text:- Capper 1808
item:-  roman coin; coin, roman
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 CAP111, button  goto source
"..."
"Near the church, on a hill, are the ruins of an ancient castle, belonging to the earl of Thanet; part of the tower was standing till 1792, when it mostly fell down. On digging near the ruins, an urn, full of Roman silver coins was found, from which it appears to have been built in the time of the Romans."
evidence:-   old text:- Gents Mag
item:-  fire, 1521
source data:-   Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London, monthly from 1731 to 1922.
image G814B627, button  goto source
Gentleman's Magazine 1814 part 2 p.627  "..."
"BROUGH, (or Brough under Stanimore (sic), to distinguish it from other places of a similar name,) one stage on the London side of Appleby, is a town of no great importance, except that its Castle was one of the number belonging to the great Duchess of Pembroke; it is a fine remain, on a grand and commanding situation, towards the North of the town. A great fire happened here before the year 1521, which destroyed nearly all the internal timber work, with the lead roofs, &c. But the Duchess began to repair these extensive damages in 1660, and over the gate placed an inscription to that effect, which has long since been beaten down and destroyed. The strength of this Castle was very great. In addition to its defence by Nature, it had several deep fosses with high banks and ramparts between, the whole rising with very steep ascent."
evidence:-   old text:- Gents Mag
source data:-   Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London, monthly from 1731 to 1922.
image G825A414, button  goto source
Gentleman's Magazine 1825 part 1 p.414 
From the Compendium of County History:-  "1176. King William of Scotland surprised Appleby castle, and utterly destroyed the town. In this inroad he sacked Brough Castle."
evidence:-   old map:- Bell 1833
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured steel engraving, Westmoreland ie Westmorland, scale about 5.5 miles to 1 inch, by James Bell? published by Archibald Fullarton and Co, Glasgow, Strathclyde, about 1834.
image
Bel2Vgn2.jpg
Vignette on map of Westmorland.  "BROUGH CASTLE "
item:-  JandMN : 3
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Brough Castle, Brough, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0421.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS75
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Photograph, Brough Castle, Brough, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1897.
image  click to enlarge
HB0021.jpg
Vol.1 no.21 in an album, Examples of Early Domestic and Military Architecture in Westmorland, assembled 1910. 
ms at bottom:-  "21. / Brough Castle. Brough. E."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.3165.21
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Photograph, Brough Castle, The Keep from the West, Brough, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1897.
image  click to enlarge
HB0022.jpg
Vol.1 no.22 in an album, Examples of Early Domestic and Military Architecture in Westmorland, assembled 1910. 
ms at bottom:-  "22. / Brough Castle, The Keep from the West. Brough. E."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.3165.22
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Photograph, Brough Castle, The Gatehouse and Domestic Buildings, Brough, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1897.
image  click to enlarge
HB0023.jpg
Vol.1 no.23 in an album, Examples of Early Domestic and Military Architecture in Westmorland, assembled 1910. 
ms at bottom:-  "23. / Brough Castle, The Gatehouse and Domestic Buildings. Brough. E."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.3165.23
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Taylor 1892
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Print, plan of Brough Castle, Brough, Westmorland, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, and by Charles Thurnam and Sons, Carlisle, Cumberland, 1892.
image  click to enlarge
TY5002.jpg
On p.31 of The Old Manorial Halls of Cumberland and Westmorland, by Michael Waistell Taylor. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A785.2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Taylor 1892
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Print, plan of the keep of Brough Castle, Brough, Westmorland, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, and by Charles Thurnam and Sons, Carlisle, Cumberland, 1892.
image  click to enlarge
TY5003.jpg
On p.33 of The Old Manorial Halls of Cumberland and Westmorland, by Michael Waistell Taylor. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A785.3
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   site plan:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Site plan, lithograph, Site Plan of Bough Castle, Brough, Westmorland, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
image  click to enlarge
CW0114.jpg
On p.81 of The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen. 
printed at bottom:-  "SITE PLAN OF BROUGH CASTLE."
item:-  Armitt Library : A782.14
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Brough Castle, the Hall, Brough, Westmorland, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
image  click to enlarge
CW0116.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.86 of The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen. 
printed at bottom:-  "BROUGH CASTLE, THE HALL."
item:-  Armitt Library : A782.16
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   site plan:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Site plan, lithograph, Brough Castle Plans of Keep, Brough, Westmorland, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
image  click to enlarge
CW0115.jpg
On p.85 of The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen. 
printed at upper left:-  "BROUGH CASTLE / PLANS OF KEEP"
item:-  Armitt Library : A782.15
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   site plan:- Historical Monuments 1936
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Site plan, uncoloured lithograph, Brough Castle Roman and Mediaeval Earthworks, Church Brough, Brough, Westmorland, scale about 1 to 2500, published by Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, London, 1936.
image  click to enlarge
HMW035.jpg
On p.48 of the Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Westmorland. 
printed, top  "BROUGH CASTLE ROMAN AND MEDIAEVAL EARTHWORKS"
RCHME no. Wmd, Brough 1 
item:-  Armitt Library : A745.35
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   site plan:- Historical Monuments 1936
placename:-  Brough Castle
item:-  
source data:-   Site plan, uncoloured lithograph, Brough Castle Plan of Ground Floor, Church Brough, Brough, Westmorland, scale about 1 to 480, published by Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, London, 1936.
image  click to enlarge
HMW038.jpg
On p.51 of the Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Westmorland. 
printed, lower left  "BROUGH / CASTLE / PLAN OF GROUND FLOOR"
RCHME no. Wmd, Brough 3 
item:-  Armitt Library : A745.38
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   text:- Jackson 1990
placename:-  Burc Castle
placename:-  Burg Castle
placename:-  Burgh Castle
placename:-  Burgo Castle
source data:-  
evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35 (vol.2 no.12) 
placename:-  Brough Castle
item:-  sheep
source data:-   Print, engraving, Brough Castle, Westmorland, by Thomas Allom, engraved by W le Petit, 1833.
image  click to enlarge
PR0615.jpg
Originally in vol.2 no.12 in Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland Ilustrated, with descriptions by Thomas Rose, published by H Fisher, R Fisher, and P Jackson, Newgate, London, about 1835. 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.562
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Brough Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Brough Castle, Westmorland, drawn by W Westall, engraved by E Finden, about 1830s?
image  click to enlarge
PR0152.jpg
This engraving is used as a vignette on Bell's map of the county, 1833. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "Drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A. / E. Finden sculp. / BROUGH CASTLE, / WESTMORELAND."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.152
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print with text:- Lowther 1780s-90s
placename:-  Castle of Brough
item:-  tower; Caesar's Tower
source data:-   Print, engraving, Brough Castle, drawn by Samuel Hooper, engraved by Sparrow, 1775; with descriptive text:-
image  click to enlarge
BNF20.jpg
"BROUGH CASTLE, WESTMORELAND."
"THIS castle stands near the north-east part of the county, and on the western bank of the river Eden. It is by some writers deemed a Roman building. Possibly a Roman fortress might have stood here before the Conquest; but the present edifice has incontestable marks of Norman origin. In the Additions to Camden, printed in Bishop Gibson's edition, the present structure is attributed to the Countess of Pembroke, if the following words are to be taken literally: 'Here also stands the Castle of Brough, and a Tower called Caesar's Tower, or the Fort before-mentioned. The Castle, having been rased to the ground, was rebuilt, not long since, by the Countess of Pembroke.' But that this is a mistake, is evident from an inscription formerly standing over the gateway, but now thrown down, and laid under the water-wheel of Brough Mill; of which this is a genuine copy:"
"'THIS castle of Brough under Stainmore, and the Great Tower of it, was repaired by the Lady Ann Clifford, Countess Dowager of Pembroke-Dorse, and Montgomery, Baron Clifford, Westmoreland and Visey, High Sheriff by inheritance of the County of Westmoreland, and Lady of the Honour of Skipton in Craven, in the year of our Lord God 1659; so as she came to lie in it herself for a little while in September 1661, after it had lain ruinous without timber, or any covering, ever since the year 1521, when it was burnt by a casual fire. Isa. chap. lviii. ver. 12. 'God's name be praised.'"
"THE above Inscription manifestly proves that the repairs done by the Countess were chiefly internal, and that the ruins now seen are those of the original building: but by whom or when they were built, neither Leland, Camden, or any other of the Topographical Writers (at least those in print), mention; tho', as has been above observed, the similarity of its Keep to those of Dover, Bamborough, Rochester, the Tower of London, and many others, plainly evince it was constructed on the Norman model."
"THE present proprietor of these ruins is the Earl of Thanet. Of late years they have been much demolished for the sake of the materials, which have been used in building stables, garden walls, and other conveniences; and particularly about the year 1763, a great part of the north-east round tower was pulled down to repair Brough Mill, at which time the Mason therein employed, for the sake of the lead and iron with which it was fixed, displaced the stone which the Countess of Pembroke caused to be set over the gateway, on which was the inscription before cited."
"CAMDEN describing this country says, 'Here Eden seems to stop its course, that it may receive some rivulets; upon one of which, scarce two miles from Eden itself, stood Verterae, an ancient town mentioned by Antoninus and the Notitia; from the latter of which we learn, that in the decline of the Roman empire a Praefect of the Romans quartered there with a band of the Directores. The town itself is dwindled into a village, which is defended with a small fort, and its name is now Burgh; for it is called Burgh under Stanmore, i. e. a Brough under a Stony Mountain. It is divided into two. The Upper, otherwise Church-Brough, where the Church standeth, of which Robert Eglesfield, Founder of Queen College in Oxford, was Rector, and procured the appropriation thereof from King Edward III. to the said College.' - And again: 'And near the Bridge is a Spaw-well, which hath not long been discovered. The other village is called Lower Brough, from its situation; and Market Brough from a market held there every Thursday. In the time of the latter Emperors (to observe this once for all) the Little Castles, which were built for the emergent occasions of war, and stored with provisions, began to be called Burgi; a new name, which, after the translation of the Empire into the East, the Germans and others seem to have taken from the Greek [ ]. And hence the Burgundians have their name from inhabiting the Burgi; for so that Age called the dwellings planted at a little distance from one another along the frontiers. I have read no more concerning this place, but that in the beginning of the Norman Government, the English formed a conspiracy here against William the Conqueror. I dare be positive that this Burgh was the Old Verterae; both because the distance, on one side from the Levatrae, and the other from Brovonacum, if resolved into Italian miles, exactly agrees with the number assigned by Antoninus; and also, because a Roman military road, still visible by its high ridge, runs this way to Brovonacum by Aballaba, mentioned in the Notitia; the name whereof is to this day kept so entire, that it plainly shews it to be the same, and leaves no ground for dispute; for instead of Aballaba we call it at this day by contraction Appleby."
"ANNO 1774, William King of Scotland taking advantage of the absence of King Henry, then in France, quelling a rebellion excited by his sons, invaded England at the head of an army, chiefly composed of Flemmings, and took this Castle, together with those of Appleby and Prudehow; but four hundred horsemen being assembled by Robert de Stouteville, Ralph Granville, William Vesey, Barnard Balliol, and Odenotte de Humfreville, they came up with the Scots, who were retiring from the seige of Alnwick; and finding them dispersed over the country in search of plunder, whereby they had left the King slightly guarded, they attacked, and with very little bloodshed on either side made him prisoner."
"THIS passage, which is mentioned by almost all our Historians, serves to shew that Brough-Castle was then in being; built, perhaps, at the time of the Conspiracy mentioned by Camden"
"This View was drawn Anno 1774."
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.32
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Pennant 1773 (edn 1801) 
source data:-   Print, engraving, Brough Church, St Michael's Church, Brough, Westmorland, drawn by Moses Griffith, engraved by Comte, published by Edward Harding, 98 Pall Mall, London, 1801.
image  click to enlarge
PEN619.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.137 of A Tour from Downing to Alston Moor, 1773, by Thomas Pennant. 
Brough Castle in the background. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "Moses Griffith. Del / Comte Sc / BROUGH CHURCH / Pub June 7 1801 by Edw Harding 98 Pall Mall."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1057.19
Image © see bottom of page

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hearsay:-  
 A stone castle was built here, on the northern part of the roman fort, Verteris, in 1095 for William Rufus.
It was destroyed by invading Scots, 1174.
... and afterwards the castle was rebuilt with a new keep, called the Roman Tower.
Sir Hugh de Morville strengthenned the castle in the 12th century.
The castle went to Roger de Vipont in 1204. Clifford Family became owners in 1268. It is thought that Robert Clifford built the round tower about 1300. Roger Clifford, his grandson, built the hall about the 1350s. This was destroyed by a fire set by the Scots, 1521, and the castle became derelict.
Lady Anne Clifford restored the castle, 1659-63. Her successors, Earls of Thanet, made Appleby their resience in the north and Brough Castle was left to decay. The roof and fittings were sold in 1715; stone was taken to build the church, 1714, and Brough Mill in 1763, and doubtless for local houses
story:-  
 Brough Castle was destroyed by invading Scots, 1174, lead by William the Lion of Scotland. The six knights in the tower, and their men, were taken by surprise. They retreated to the tower, but this was set alight and they surrendered. Jordan Fantosme recorded the action in a ballad:-
"To the king they have surrendered;
Great sorrow have they in their hearts,
But a new knight came to them that day,
Now hear of his deeds, and of his great strength
He returned to the tower, and siezed two shields,
He hung them on the battlements, stayed there a long time,
And hurled on the Scots three sharp javelins
With each of the javelins he struck a man dead ...
And ever he goes on shouoting: 'Soon shall you all be vanquished.'
When the fire deprived him of the defence of his shields
He is not to blame if he then surrendered.
Never by a single vassal was a conflict better maintained,"

Robertson, Dawn & Koronka, Peter: 1992: Secrets and Legends of Old Westmorland: Pagan Press (Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria) &Cumbria CC (library service)
notes:-  
 12th century castle

Perriam, D R &Robinson, J: 1998: Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria: CWAAS:: ISBN 1 873124 23 6; plan and illustration
notes:-  
 Keep about 1170, and other buildings of later periods. Burnt down by the Scots, 1521. Repaired by Lady Anne Pembroke, mid 17th century.
person:-    : English Heritage
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