Greystoke Castle

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Greystoke Castle 2005

Greystoke Castle is a castle in the village of Greystoke , about 8 km west of Penrith in the English county of Cumbria .

history

In 1069, after the Norman conquest of England , the English landowner Ligulf de Greystoke got his lands back and had a wooden tower built on it, which was surrounded by a palisade . The first stone building on the site was built in 1129 by order of Ivo de Greystoke , his grandson. The building grew into a large peel tower and in the 14th century, after William de Greystoke had received a royal permit to fortify (English: "License to Crenellate"), the castle was further enlarged.

In 1571 the castle was owned by Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshal of England, by marriage to the Dacre family , the previous owners. The Howards were Catholics and Royalists , and so the castle was reduced to rubble by the Parliamentarists under General Lambert in 1648 during the English Civil War .

In 1789 the castle was converted into a palace and enlarged. In 1838 and again in 1848, the castle was rebuilt according to plans by Anthony Salvin in such a way that the older buildings, such as the Peel Tower, were integrated. Charles Howard had the castle grounds converted into a modern farm. In 1868 the house caught fire and many treasures and works of art were burned. Under Henry Howard the castle was completely rebuilt, again according to plans by Anthony Salvin.

During the Second World War , the castle and property were requisitioned by the British Army and used as a training ground for tank drivers. A prisoner of war camp was set up in the castle itself . Both the castle grounds and the castle itself were badly damaged during this time. Stafford Howard inherited the property in 1950 and had it again extensively restored. Today it is in the hands of his son, Neville Howard .

The castle is not open to the public, but serves as a venue for corporate parties, outdoor management training, and weddings.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Charles Coulson: Castles in Medieval Society: Fortresses in England, France, and Ireland in the Central Middle Ages . Oxford University Press. 2004. Retrieved April 18, 2016.

Web links and sources

Commons : Greystoke Castle  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 54 ° 40 ′ 12 "  N , 2 ° 52 ′ 39.3"  W.