Warwick on Eden earthwork

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

There are no visible remains

NameWarwick on Eden earthwork
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishWetheral

(Area NY 466 567) At Warwick Knowe, immediately above Warwick Bridge are the remains of large earthworks of no regular shape. They are supposed to have been raised to guard the bridge against the Scots (OS map 1957; Hutchinson; Whellan).

All trace of any former earthworks has disappeared. Warwick Knowe is a natural hill under pasture (F1 RWE 14-APR-66). (PastScape)

Earthworks; possibly Civil War Period.

Hutchinson states 'immediately above {the bridge at Warwick}, on an eminence which commands the passage of the river, are the remains of large breast-works of earth, but of no regular figure, or any other character to lead to the idea of its having ever been a permanent Roman station. The works appear like temporary fortifications only, and, as this part of the country was frequently harassed, as well by the incursions of the Scots, as the armies which our monarchs led northward against the neigbouring nation, it is not worth a traveller's trouble... to explain them.'

Wilson gives details of a skirmish there in June 1648. The earthworks were probably of 1644 for the siege of Carlisle.

Aerial photography and field walking may reveal traces. Possibly destroyed by cutting of new road to bridge 1833-5. Not thought to be earlier site of Warwick Hall. (Perriam and Robinson 1998)

Gatehouse Comments

Although Perriam and Robinson comment that this is not thought to be an earlier site of Warwick Hall it should be noted it is an area adjacent to the C12 Church of St. Leonard and the current Warwick Hall although on the site of earlier buildings but these only certainly dating back to the late C18. The site could be suitable to further investigation including aerial lidar and geophysics.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY468567
Latitude54.9024314880371
Longitude-2.83285999298096
Eastings346800
Northings556700
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. 224
  • Wilson, J., 1912, Rose Castle: the Residential Seat of the Bishop of Carlisle (Carlisle) p. 231
  • Whellan, W., 1860, The History and Topography of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmorland (Pontefract) p. 188 online copy
  • Hutchinson, W., 1794, The History of the County of Cumberland (Carlisle) Vol. 1 p. 153