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Dacre Castle, Dacre
Dacre Castle
locality:-   Dacre
civil parish:-   Dacre (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   castle
locality type:-   haunted house
coordinates:-   NY46052650
1Km square:-   NY4626
10Km square:-   NY42

photograph
BLM33.jpg (taken 23.12.2005)  
photograph
BLM34.jpg (taken 23.12.2005)  
evidence:-   old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  Daker 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
Sax9NY42.jpg
Building with two towers, symbol for a castle.  "Daker cast"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?) 
placename:-  Daker Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Northumbria, Cumberlandia, et Dunelmensis Episcopatus, ie Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham etc, scale about 6.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, about 1595.
image
MER8CumF.jpg
"Daker ca."
tower 
item:-  JandMN : 169
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Cum/EW) 
placename:-  Daker Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Kingdome of Great Britaine and Ireland, scale about 36 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, about 1610-11, published by Thomas Bassett, Fleet Street and Richard Chiswell, St Paul's Churchyard, London, 1676?
image  click to enlarge
SPD6Cm.jpg
"Daker Ca"
dot, circle, and tower 
item:-  private collection : 85
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by J Sudbury and George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP11NY42.jpg
"Dacre ca."
circle, buildings, tower 
item:-  private collection : 16
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Daker 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
SP14NY42.jpg
"Daker cast"
circle, towers 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jansson 1646
placename:-  Daker 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
JAN3NY42.jpg
"Daker cast."
Buildings and tower. 
item:-  JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Dacor Castle
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, 1695, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695-1715.
image
MD12NY42.jpg
"Dacor Castle"
Circle, building with two towers, and a cross on one tower. 
item:-  JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Daker Castle
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
MD10NY42.jpg
"Daker Castl."
Circle and tower. 
item:-  JandMN : 24
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Buck 1739
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South East View of Dacre Castle, in the County of Cumberland, drawn and engraved by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, published 1739.
image  click to enlarge
BU0205.jpg
printed, top  "THE SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF DACRE-CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND."
printed, bottom  "THIS castle is famous for being ye Place where Constantine, King of ye Scots, and Eugenius, King of Cumberland, put themselves and their Kingdoms under the Protection of ye English King Athelstan. It is situated near a little River of ye same Name, and was ye Seat of the Barons de Dacre, to whom it gave that Denominiation, & from it sprung the whole Family of the Dacres of the North. It continued in Possession of ye Dacres till the Reign of Q. Elizth. when it came by Marriage of ye Heiress to ye Leonards Earls of Sussex, the last Earl of wch. Name dying in ye reign of Q. Anne, without Issue Male, it was expos'd to Sale and purchas'd by Sr. Christopher Musgrave Bart., who transferr'd it to Edward Hasel Esqr. the present Proprietor. / Saml. &Nathl. Buck delin. et Sculp: Publish'd according to Act of Parliament March 26. 1739."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.67.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Simpson 1746
placename:-  Dacre Castle
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 SMP4P189, button  goto source
"... Upon the Banks of which [Eamont], where the little River Dacre joins it, stands"
"Dacre-Castle, noted in later Ages for giving its Name to the Family of the Barons de Dacre; and was mentioned by Bede for having a Monastery there in his Time. The Castle has still some Signs that it was anciently a magnificent Building, when it was the Seat of that Family; ..."
image SMP4P197, button  goto source
"... Kirkoswald and Dacre Castle, the late Earl of Suffex's. ..."
evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Dacor 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
BO18NY32.jpg
"Dacor Cas."
circle and flag 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Dacre Castle
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
J5NY42NE.jpg
"Dacre Castle"
building with towers; castle 
item:-  National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Image © National Library of Scotland
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
D4NY42NE.jpg
"Castle"
large building; a castle at Dacre 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-   old map:- West 1784 map
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A Map of the Lakes in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Paas, 53 Holborn, London, about 1784.
image
Ws02NY42.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : A1221.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Gilpin 1786
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, aquatint, like Dacre Castle, by William Gilpin, 1772-74
image GLP4E019, button  goto source
image  click to enlarge
GLP319.jpg
Plate vol 2 opposite p.85 in Observations on Picturesque Beauty published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1808. 
The list of plates in the preface of the book has:-  "This view has more of the air of Dacre-castle than any of the other old castles we met with: but it is chiefly introduced to shew the beautiful effect which some of these ruins had, when seen, under a gloomy hemisphere, inlightened by the rays of a setting sun."
item:-  Armitt Library : A918.19
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Dacre 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 CL13P023, button  goto source
Page 23:-  "..."
"The next remarkable object that presents itself is Dacre Castle; an old tower, though pretty entire, and formerly the seat of the Dacre family. At what time it came into their possession is very uncertain; but it appears to have been theirs at the time of the Saxon invasion, and probably much earlier, ..."
"This estate and castle remained in the Dacre family till the reign of King Henry the VII. when the only remainder of that family was a daughter, named Johan: she was married to Sir Richard Fynes, Knight, who was therefore declared Lord Dacre of the South. In his name and family it continued till the year 1716, when it was sold to Sir Christopher Musgrave, who again sold it to Edward Hassel of Dalemain, Esq; and it has remained in that family ever since. William of Malmesbury says, that this is the"
image CL13P024, button  goto source
Page 23:-  "place where Constantine King of the Scots, and Eugenius King of Cumberland, put themselves under the protection of Athelstan King of England, A.D. 927."
evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Daker 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:-  "..."
"19 DAKER. The Dakers, now spelled Dacre, (see Dacre.)"
"..."
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789
placename:-  Dacre 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 CAM2P173, button  goto source
Page 173:-  "..."
"... on the little river Dacor, stands Dacre castle, well known to us for giving name to the family of the barons Dacre, ..."
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) 
item:-  placename, Dacre
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 CAM2P188, button  goto source
Page 188:-  "..."
"At Dacre is the shell of a magnificent castle, once the seat of the Dacre family, who took their name from Acres in the Holy Land; but here are no remains of the monastery, nor does it appear to have subsisted since the Conquest. Mr. Gale derives the name from the Cohors Dacorum stationed here. Here are two rivers Glan, whence Labbéon the Notitia writes it Ambo Glanna. The family of Dacre ended in George lord Dacre 1569, whose great great uncle's daughter marrying sir Richard Fynes, chamberlain to Edward IV. he was created lord Dacre of the South, and his descendants still enjoy the title."
evidence:-   old map:- Cary 1789 (edn 1805) 
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmoreland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Cary, London, 1789; edition 1805.
image
CY24NY42.jpg
"Dacre Castle"
house symbol; castle 
item:-  JandMN : 129
Image © see bottom of page
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 G7950986, button  goto source
Gentleman's Magazine 1795 p.986  "... The true name of the family was D'Acre, from one of them who served at the siege of Acre (or Ptolemais) in the Holy Land; who, from his achievements there, having received the name of the place, imparted the same at his return to his habitation in Cumberland."
"When this noble family deserted their ancient mansion, the castle, I am not informed. The estate was sold by Anne Lennard, Baroness Dacre, and others, in the year 1716, to Sir Christopher Musgrave, of Edenhall, bart. who conveyed it to the grandfather of the present proprietor Edward Hassell, of Dalemanin, Esq."
"..."
"W. M."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes.
image OT01P083, button  goto source
Page 83:-  "Remains of Castles of a more permanent construction are to be seen at ... Dacre, ... the one at Dacre is used as a farm house; ..."
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 FD01P142, button  goto source
Page 142:-  "..."
"... The Castle is now converted into a farm-house, the moat is filled up, and the outworks destroyed; but the main building remains in a perfect state, consisting of four towers of excellent masonry. ..."
evidence:-   old print:- Taylor 1892
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Dacre Castle, Dacre, Cumberland, 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
TY5061.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.278 of The Old Manorial Halls of Cumberland and Westmorland, by Michael Waistell Taylor. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A785.61
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Taylor 1892
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, plan of Dacre Castle, Dacre, Cumberland, 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
TY5062.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.280 of The Old Manorial Halls of Cumberland and Westmorland, by Michael Waistell Taylor. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A785.62
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Bradley 1901
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured lithograph, Dacre Castle, Dacre, Westmorland, by Joseph Pennell, published by Macmillan and Co, London, 1901.
image  click to enlarge
BRL111.jpg
On page 68 of Highways and Byways in the Lake District, by A G Bradley. 
printed at lower left:-  "Joseph Pennell"
printed at bottom:-  "Dacre Castle."
item:-  JandMN : 464.11
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Bradley 1901
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured lithograph, Dacre Castle, Dacre, Cumberland, by Joseph Pennell, published by Macmillan and Co, London, 1901.
image  click to enlarge
BRL174.jpg
On page 281 of Highways and Byways in the Lake District, by A G Bradley. 
printed at bottom:-  "Dacre Castle."
item:-  JandMN : 464.74
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   site plan:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Site plan, lithograph, Dacre Castle, middle and basement stories, Dacre, Cumberland, scale about 1 to 230, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
image  click to enlarge
CW0152.jpg
On p.271 of The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen. 
printed at lower centre:-  "DACRE CASTLE, CUMBERLAND."
item:-  Armitt Library : A782.52
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"DACRE CASTLE / / / DACRE / EDEN / CUMBRIA / I / 73750 / NY4603726488"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Fortified tower house. C14 with C17 and C19 alterations. Extremely thick walls of dressed mixed sandstone with offsets, on chamfered plinth, the roof hidden by battlemented parapets. 2-storey rectangular tower over vaulted basement, with angle turrets. Entrance facade has off-centre doorway with stone surround, up L-shaped stone steps. Central C17 coat-of-arms of Earl of Sussex. Irregular fenestration of large C17 cross-mullioned windows, the turrets with smaller loops and 2-light windows. The right and rear left turrets are larger and square, compared with smaller opposing 45° turrets; the rear larger turret being the original entrance point with newel staircase. The interior has many original features such as fireplaces, oven recess, mural chambers and garderobes. See M.W. Taylor, Old Manorial Halls of Westmorland & Cumberland, 1892, pp.278-286; J.F. Curwen, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland &Westmorland, 1913, pp.269-272."
evidence:-   old drawing:- 
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Drawing, Dacre Castle, Dacre, Cumberland, by Thomas Bushby, 1905.
image  click to enlarge
PR1328.jpg
. 
dated & signed &inscribed at bottom left:-  "June 12 1905 Thos. Bushby Dacre Castle"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1996.252.8
Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-   old print:- Bogg 1898
source data:-   Print, ?lithograph, Interior View, Dacre Castle, Dacre, Cumberland, by Owen Bowen from a photograph by Edmund Bogg, published by Edmund Bogg, 3 Woodhouse Lane, and James Miles, Guildford Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, 1898.
image  click to enlarge
BGG139.jpg
Included on p.138 of Lakeland and Ribblesdale, by Edmund Bogg. 
item:-  JandMN : 231.39
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Britton and Brayley 1802
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Dacre Castle, Cumberland, drawn by Sir R C Hoare, engraved by J Storer, published by Vernor and Hood, Poultry, London, 1802.
image  click to enlarge
PR0149.jpg
Included in the Beauties of England and Wales, by John Britton and Edward W Brayley. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "Engrav'd by J. Storer from a drawing by Sir R. C. Hoare, Bart. / for the Beauties of England & Wales. / DACRE CASTLE. / Cumberland / London, Publish'd by Vernor &Hood, Poultry, Sep. 1. 1802."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.149
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Dacre castle, Cumberland, drawn by Sir R C Hoare, engraved by J Storer, published by Vernor and Hood, Poultry, London, 1802.
image  click to enlarge
PR0228.jpg
Included in the Beauties of England and Wales. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "Engraved by J. Storer from a drawing by Sir R. C. Hoare Bart. / for the Beauties of England & Wales. / DACRE CASTLE, / Cumberland. / [London Published by Vernor &Hood, Poultry, Sep. 1. 1802]"
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.228
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Gilpin 1786 (?edn) 
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, oval sepia tinted aquatint, Dacre Castle, Cumberland, by William Gilpin, 1772-74, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1786.
image  click to enlarge
PR0458.jpg
Included in vol.2 opposite p.85 in Observations, Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, made in the year 1772. 
The list of plates in the preface of the book has:-  "XIX. This view has more of the air of Dacre-castle than any of the other old castles we met with: but it is chiefly introduced to shew the beautiful effect which some of these ruins had, when seen, under a gloomy hemisphere, inlightened by the rays of a setting sun. Page 85."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.458
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Lowther 1780s-90s
source data:-   Print, engraving, South East View of Dacre Castle, Dacre, Cumberland now Cumbria, 18th century.
image  click to enlarge
BMZ18.jpg
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.71
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Dacre Castle
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The South East View of Dacre Castle, Cumberland, about 1769.
image  click to enlarge
PR0184.jpg
Included in vol.3 p.47 of a set of castle pictures? 
printed at bottom:-  "The South East View of Dacre Castle, in the County of Cumberland."
printed at top left of page:-  "Vol.III pa.47."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.184
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
BJW97.jpg (taken 30.9.2005)  
hearsay:-  
 Pele tower; tunnel vaulted basement, the hall has a laver. In the 14th century there was a chapel. Generally closed to visits.
ghost story:-  
 The castle is haunted by the ghost of Eloise, wife of Sir Guy Dacre, and an italian man whom she ran off with. They were caught, and were brought back to the castle. She was taken to the dungeon where her lover was chained to the wall, she embraced him, and his head fell off. She was left in the dungeon with the corpse, and died mad.
hearsay:-  
 Two gentlemen lived here once who were interested in heraldry. They flew different flags from the towers on different days.
The Kinsman Family lived here, Mrs Bunty Kinsman being famous in London society.
notes:-  
 tower, moat, etc

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