Dunmalloght Pele

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House, and also as a Questionable Uncertain

There are no visible remains

NameDunmalloght Pele
Alternative NamesDunvalloght; Dunmallet; Dunmallard; Dunmallok
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishDacre

Dunmallard small multivallate hillfort, located on the summit of Dunmallard hill overlooking the foot of Ullswater. It includes an enclosure with internal measurements of approximately 92m north-south by 39m east-west. The enclosure is defended on all sides except the central part of the east side, where it has eroded down the steep slope, by a partly stone-revetted bank measuring up to 9m wide and 3m high and an external ditch measuring up to 9m wide and 1m deep. A second bank and ditch of slighter proportions protect the northern end of the site. The entrance into the hillfort's interior is located at the southern end of the western side where a narrow gap penetrates obliquely through the defences. (Scheduling Report)

A pele is recorded at Dunmalloght in 1317-18 when 10 men-at-arms and 10 hobelars were paid to guard it. Licence to crenellate had been granted in 1317. its precise location is unknown, but it is likely to be in the vicinity of Dunmallard Hill. (PastScape ref. Perriam and Robinson)

Gatehouse Comments

The Dunmallard hill fort is prominent and spectacular but this sort of isolated hill is relatively uncommon as the site of medieval fortifications (although there are notable examples such as Almondbury in Yorkshire or Beeston Castle, Cheshire). There are no know medieval features or finds on the hill. It is the sort of site to attract the military minded antiquarian, coming from Whig Historiography and Nationalistic perspectives, considering the high status house as a defence against the Scots. It is less likely to have been attractive to actual medieval people. Gatehouse had, prior to July 2009, on the authority of Perriam and Robinson, considered this the more likely site for the licence to crenellate but now considers the more likely site to be Dunwalloght castle. It is also possible the other C14 reference to a 'Pelam of Dunmallock' is to Dunwallought (N.B. The medieval hand-written forms of w (or uu) and m are near identical).

- Philip Davis

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 ReferenceNY467246
Latitude54.6144104003906
Longitude-2.82543992996216
Eastings346770
Northings524600
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 97 (slight)
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 185
  • Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 1 Northern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 263
  • Summerson, H.R.T., 1993, Medieval Carlisle (CWAAS Extra Series 25)
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press) p. 54, 98
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 92, 100n84
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1967, Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland (Harmondsworth) p. 284
  • Smith, A.H., 1967, Place Names of Westmorland. Part II: The barony of Westmorland, analyses, index, maps (English Place Name Society 43) p. 215
  • RCHME, 1936, An inventory of the historical monuments in Westmorland (HMSO) p. 39
  • Curwen, J.F., 1913, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 13) p. 47-8, 204
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 405 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1853, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 2 p. 213 online copy

Journals

  • Higham, N.J. and Jones, G.D.B., 1976, 'Frontiers, forts and farmers. Cumbrian aerial survey, 1974-5' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 132 p. 36
  • Hay, T., 1938, 'Ullswater Notes' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 38 p. 42-3 online copy
  • Hay, T., 1937, 'Three Interesting Site' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 37 p. 55 online copy
  • Curwen, J.F., 1912, 'Trostermount-on-Ullswater' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 12 p. 99-101 online copy
  • Graham, T.H.B., 1911, 'Extinct Cumberland Castles (Part III)' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 11 p. 233-5 online copy
  • Graham, T.H.B., 1909, 'Six Extinct Cumberland Castles' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 9 p. 218-20 (actual refers to Dunwalloght) online copy
  • Ward, J.C., 1878, 'Notes on Archaeological Remains in the Lake District' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 3 p. 248 online copy
  • Taylor, M.W., 1866-73, 'Vestiges of Celtic Occupation near Ullswater, etc.' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 1 p. 157-61 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1894, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward II (1307-13) Vol. 1 p. 11 online copy
  • Society of Antiquaries, London, Ms 121, Wardrobe Accounts, 11 Edward II (1317-18), f20d (£160.5s pa to guard the peel of Dunmallok)

Other

  • AM Schedule, 6/9/94