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Introduction: One of the earlier records show that William Strickland, then the local Rector (later Bishop of Carlisle and Archbishop of Canterbury), got permission to build his castle here after Scots border raids, including the burning of Penrith in 1345. Penrith was once a strategic location and the whole area was a full of military activity. In the 14th century the town of Penrith was subject to raids from Scotland. As a result of these problems the castle was built at Penrith in 1397. The castle was built around an earlier Pele Tower. By the mid 15th century the castle had become one of the possessions of the Duke of Gloucester. He had several residences in the North of England. He added to the structure after he became King Richard III. After this time the castle was very poorly maintained and by 1547 was a ruin. The castle is to be found near the centre of Penrith. It is at the centre of a children's playpark and this is thought by some people not to be a fitting use for the castle. Children play in the castle and a football pitch is nearby. Are children worse than hundreds of years of neglect? Mary Queen of Scots stayed in the town on her last journey south and Bonnie Prince Charlie passed on his way north in 1746. Map reference: | ||
