Linstock Castle

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

Farmhouse, formerly a tower house. Built in the 12th or early 13th century as palace for the Bishops of Carlisle, with 17th-20th century additions and alterations. Tower has large blocks of red sandstone, mostly from the Roman Wall nearby, for walls 2 metres thick; slate gabled roof. 3 storeys, one bay, tower. Entrance to ground floor, has chamfered rounded arch with continuous hood-mould hidden by ivy: above left is original first-floor entrance with rounded arch, now filled. Windows inserted in 1768 with plain freestone surrounds, sashes with glazing bars, 19th century plank door. East face has 2 round-headed lancets and one flat-headed chamfered lancet, now all filled. Ground floor chamfered lancet to west face. 20th century steel casement in north face. Interior has pointed arch vaulting to ground floor without stairs: first-floor room connected to 2 second-floor rooms by stair in thickness of the wall. Walls originally higher and flat roof, reduced and gabled 1768. Extension at right angles of 2 storeys, 2 bays has sandstone rubble walls partly covered by render, is probably early 17th century incorporating parts of an earlier out building. Two 17th century chamfered mullion windows with mixed 19th and 20th century sashes, with with single glazing bars and steel casements. Further one bay early 19th century extension of brick under same roof with 20th century kitchen extension of single storey, 2 bays to side. Close to the castle are the remains of the encircling moat. Used as Bishops Palace c1219-early 14th century, then as prison and refuge for villagers in border raids. For 6 days in March 1307, Edward I, his Queen and Court were entertained here, whilst Parliament was held in Carlisle. Earthwork remains of a medieval moat around the castle. (PastScape–ref. Listed building description)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY42895848

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 11417
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 3809 '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.

• Web site links
  • http://www.visitcumbria.com/pele2.htm
• Books
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (CWAAS) p84
    Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p172
    Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern) p72
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p48 [slight]
    Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carel Press) p72
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p88
    Hugill, Robert, 1977, Castles and Peles of Cumberland and Westmorland (Newcastle; Frank Graham) p122-124
    Pevsner, N., 1967, The Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland (Harmondsworth, Penguin) p139
    Curwen, J.F., 1913, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (Kendal) p298-9
    Wilson, 1912, Rose Castle (Carlisle)
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p321
    Taylor, M.W., 1892, The Old Manorial Halls of Westmorland and Cumberland (CWAAS extra series Vol8) p342-3 http://www.archive.org/stream/oldmanorialhall00taylgoog#page/n500/mode/2up
• Journal Articles
  • Bennet, J., Herne, A. and Whitworth, A., 1987, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol87 p81
    Graham, T.H.B., 1912, 'Extinct Cumberland Castles' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol12 p187-94
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/cumbeng.html#cumb20]
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales [available via http://ethos.bl.uk ]