Castlefield, Beckfoot

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Mawbray Castle, Bibra

In the civil parish of Holme St Cuthbert. In the historic county of Cumberland (Modern Authority of Cumbria, 1974 county of Cumbria).

Supposed bastle but probably a Roman Fort. Whellan writes 'said to have been the site of an ancient fortress, which is generally understood to have been one of the partially fortified farmhouses of the monastery of Holm Cultram'. Jackson does not mention bastle but does mention Roman fort, once locally called 'Mawbray Castle'.
This is clearly the site of a Roman fort and the castle placenames clearly refer to Roman remains. However, this does not exclude the presence of a bastle (built of easily available stone) using the Roman fort as a barmkin.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY08964884

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles 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 9087
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 625 [Roman fort] '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.

• Books
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (CWAAS)
    Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carel Press)