CASTLES KIRKBY STEPHEN

Lammerside Castle stands as a ruined 14th-century pele tower near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, positioned on the west bank of the River Eden along a bridle path between Pendragon Castle and Wharton Hall. Originally built by the Warcop family in the 12th century and later strengthened in the 14th century as a defensive pele tower to protect against Scottish raiders, the castle was eventually abandoned in the 17th century when the family relocated to Wharton Hall. The tower, constructed of coursed squared rubble, measures 14 metres by 11 metres and is flanked by the remains of an enclosing barmkin wall. Now protected as a Grade II listed building and Scheduled Monument, the ruins afford glimpses into medieval fortified life in the English borderlands.

Pendragon Castle occupies a dramatic riverside setting in the Mallerstang Valley near Kirkby Stephen in Westmorland, surrounded by the peaks of Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang Edge. Built in the late 12th century, likely by Hugh de Morville, the castle stands beside the young River Eden in a strategically commanding location. Despite legendary associations with Uther Pendragon and King Arthur, archaeological evidence dates the fortress to the Norman period. Lady Anne Clifford famously rebuilt the castle after Scottish raids destroyed it, cementing her role as a notable landowner and restorer of border fortifications. The castle was finally dismantled in 1681 and remains a romantic ruin accessible via scenic walking trails.