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Hayes Castle, Distington
Hayes Castle
Street:-   Hayes Castle Road
civil parish:-   Lowca (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   castle (ruins) 
coordinates:-   NY00122258
1Km square:-   NY0022
10Km square:-   NY02

photograph
CFL59.jpg (taken 2.9.2016)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 61 7) 
placename:-  Hayes 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.
"Hayes Castle (Remains of) / Moat (Remains of)"
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Hay 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
SP11NY02.jpg
"Hay Cast"
circle, building, tower 
item:-  private collection : 16
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   perhaps old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Haye 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
MD12NY02.jpg
"Haye Cast"
Circle, building with two towers, sharing a symbol with Distington. 
item:-  JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Hay 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
BO18NX92.jpg
"Hay Castle"
circle and flag 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Hay Castle
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
D4NX92SE.jpg
"Hay Castle / John Hartley Esq"
large building; a castle 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Hay 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:-  "..."
"20. HAY CASTLE, - Some say, stood upon the rock in Borrowdale called Castle, behind Grainge, built by the Romans, (as named before,) others say (as Speed) a place near Whitehaven, which I cannot find."
"..."
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789
placename:-  Hay 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 CAM2P170, button  goto source
Page 170:-  "..."
"... Hay Castle, respectable for its antiquity, which the people told me once belonged to the noble families of Moresby and Distinton."
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) 
placename:-  Hayes 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 CAM2P181, button  goto source
Page 181:-  "..."
"Hayes castle is the capital messuage belonging to Distington manor. It belonged to the Moresbys, and is now the property of Mr. Hartley, merchant in Whitehaven."
evidence:-   old text:- Gents Mag
placename:-  Dykhurst
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 G856B323, button  goto source
Gentleman's Magazine 1856 part 2 pp.323-330  "..."
"LICENCES TO CRENELLATE, FROM THE PATENT ROLLS IN THE TOWER OF LONDON."
"[Edward II continued]"
"..."
"15. Robertus de Leyburn mansum Dykhurst ... Cumbr."
"..."
evidence:-   text:- Curwen 1913
placename:-  Aykhurst
item:-  licence to crenellate
source data:-   Book, The Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, by John F Curwen, published for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society by Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1913.
Licence to crenellate granted by Edward II; 13 March 1322:-  "Rex omnibus ballivis et fidelibus suis ad quos etc. salutem. Sciatis quod in gratia nostra speciali concessimus pro nobis in heredibus nostris dilecto et fideli nostro Roberto de Leyburn' quod ipse mansum suum de Aykhurst in Comitatu Cumbriensi muro de petra et calce firmari et kernellare, et mansum illud sic firmatum et kernellatum tenere possit sibi et heredibus suis imperpetuum sine occasione vel impedimento nostri vel heredum nostrorum vicecomitum aut aliorum ballivorum seu ministrorum nostrorum quorumcumque. In cujus etc. Teste Rege apud Derby xiij die Marcii"
evidence:-   text:- Jackson 1990
placename:-  Aykerist Castle
placename:-  Aykhurst Castle
placename:-  Dykhurst Castle
placename:-  Hay Castle
source data:-  
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Hayes Castle
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"HAYES CASTLE / / HAYES CASTLE ROAD / DISTINGTON / COPELAND / CUMBRIA / II / 76118 / NY0013122558"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Castle. Present name probably a corruption of Aykhurst for which a licence to crenellate was issued in 1322 to Robert de Leyburn; probably established before this date. Originally consisted of tower house on motte with curtain wall and moat, now ruinous. Moat survives on north and west sides, but only north wall of square-plan tower house remains on motte. Sandstone block facings with rubble core; c4 ft thick and c20 ft high. Other stones re-used in surrounding buildings. Scheduled Ancient Monument."
notes:-  
 14th century tower, etc

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