Downhall; The Castles

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Other/Unknown), and also as a Possible Masonry Castle, and also as a Certain Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameDownhall; The Castles
Alternative NamesDown Hall
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishAikton

The castle at Downhall, the manorial seat of John de Morville, one of the assassins of St Thomas Becket, was destroyed by the Scots under Bruce, after Bannockburn (Orig NB Aikton 1866 53).

There are no traces of the walls, but the site of the square keep is very distinct (not now traceable). It appears to have been surrounded on three sides by an outer wall, enclosing a bailey on the east side. To the east the remains of the moat are strongly marked. Bulmer mentions a moated platform c100 yards square. He states that when the present buildings were erected in 1826, a portion of the drawbridge was found (Bulmer 1901).

Ferguson states that the Western ditch is now the hollow road leading to the Church. The farm buildings stand on the southern ditch, the east and north ditches are fresh and deep. The outer bailey has been enclosed by a ditch, which, to the north and east is perfect, but obliterated to the south and west. The ditch is 24 yards broad at the top, and has a scarp and counterscarp of about three yards (Ferguson).

'The Castles', Downhall Farm. Comprehensive description of earthworks, history of investigation and account of trial excavation in 1981. The eastern D-shaped enclosure is probably a late 14th century addition to the main platform, thereby suggesting a terminus post quem for the latter. The area to the east of the later enclosure was occupied by at least one building, together with a series of soakaway pits which might have been for some minor industrial use (Bennett et al). (PastScape)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY283525
Latitude54.862491607666
Longitude-3.11855006217957
Eastings328300
Northings552540
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Grimsditch, Brian, Nevell, Michael and Nevell, Richard, 2012, Buckton Castle and the Castles of the North West England (University of Salford Archaeological Monograph 2) p. 106-7
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 58
  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 48
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press) p. 53
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 85
  • Curwen, J.F., 1913, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 13) p. 43-4
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Bulmer, T.F., 1901, History, Topography, and Directory Of Cumberland p. 104 online transcription
  • Collingwood, W.G., 1901, 'Remains of the pre-Norman Period' in H.Arthur Doubleday (ed), VCH Cumberland Vol. 1 p. 292 online copy
  • Hutchinson, W., 1794, The History of the County of Cumberland (Carlisle) Vol. 2 p. 480 online copy

Journals

  • Bennet, J., Herne, A. and Whitworth, A., 1987, '"The Castles", Downhall, Aikton' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 87 p. 67-83 online copy
  • Richardson, G.G.S., 1972, 'Down Hall, Cumberland (NY 283525)' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 72 p. 328-9 online copy
  • Graham, T.H.B., 1932, 'Hugh de Morvill' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 32 p. 5-6 online copy
  • Graham, T.H.B., 1931, 'Aikton' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 31 p. 53 online copy
  • 1928, 'Proceedings' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 28 p. 401 online copy
  • Graham, T.H.B., 1910, 'Extinct Cumberland Castles. Part II' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 10 p. 112-15 online copy
  • Ferguson, R.S., 1882, 'Earthworks in Cumberland' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 6 p. 194-5 online copy