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Castle How, Sowerby

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Sourebi

In the civil parish of Castle Sowerby. In the historic county of Cumberland (Modern Authority of Cumbria, 1974 county of Cumbria).

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
  Confidence: It is probable that this site was a medieval fortification or palace.   Earthworks remains.
Ovegrown possible motte and bailey. Possibly the castle of Sourebi mentioned in 1186-7.
Castle How is the probable site of Castle Sowerby which is mentioned in the pipe rolls of Henry II. It would have been dismantled before 1237 when the manor of Castle Sowerby was assigned to the King of Scotland. According to Cathcart King, the site is mentioned in 1186-7 and the castle may be an unfinished work. (PastScape)
Perriam & Robinson write not thought likely to be a castle site on the balance of evidence presented. Isolated from settlement but in forest land and possibly intended as a hunting lodge.
The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY36053840

Air Photo from multimap logo

Air Photo and general mapping

1st edition OS Map from old maps logo

Mid to late 19th century maps

Modern Map from Ordnance Survey logo

Landscape form and features

Modern Map from streetmap logo

General location and route planning

Geograph British Isles geography.org.uk logo
occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 10457
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 896 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English Heritage and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes. I do not receive any income from this site and I fund it myself.
The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
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This record last updated on Wednesday, October 28, 2009

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