Green Castle, Dun Fell

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameGreen Castle, Dun Fell
Alternative NamesGreencastle, Dunfell
Historic CountryWestmorland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishMilburn

Hodgson writing in 1820, identified an earthwork at Greencastle on the south side of Dunfell, which was a round enclosure with deep trenches. Possible ringwork. A Roman altar is alleged to have been found there. (PastScape - as medieval circular enclosure/medieval ringwork)

In this manor, near to a place called Green Castle (which is a round fort with deep trenches about it, on the south end of Denfell) was an altar found with this inscription, DEO SILVANO. (Nicholson and Burn 1777)

Gatehouse Comments

King writes nothing known of castle mention by Moore as existing in Westmorland; Moore's source being, presumably, Nicholson and Burn. Perriam and Robinson identify this as 'Greencastle' (formerly) in Kirkby Thorpe parish, a round enclosure with deep trenches. Site of find of Roman Altar 'DEO SILVANO' Far from settlement, in area of mining, possibly Romano-british settlement or post medieval. The location does dominate a high pass over Great Dun Fell, but this is not a major route. PastScape does give the possibility of this being a medieval ringwork. A location is on a fell side in an area of high rainfall and, consequently, high erosion rates so site may be eroded away and there seems to be no actually artificial earthworks here now. The castle name may being derive for the Roman or Iron Age remains (possibly a mining camp) although it may be that the 'round fort and deep trenches' was the natural cliffs of the gorge (and a line of sink holes and mining leats?) which the road goes up through and the name may be a reference to an impressive natural feature. This is unlikely to have ever been a medieval fortification.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY715313
Latitude54.6759490966797
Longitude-2.4434700012207
Eastings371500
Northings531300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 279
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 495 (possible)
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Britton, 1813, The Beauties of England and Wales Vol. 14 p. 94 online copy
  • Moore, James, 1798, List of the Principal Castles and Monasteries in Great Britain (London) p. 44 online copy
  • Nicholson, J. and Burn, B., 1777, The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland (London) Vol. 1 p. 388 online copy