Photographs of the historic town of Penrith and neighbouring village of Brougham in the Eden Valley of Cumbria.
Eamont Bridge - Ullswater - Langwathby - Salkeld - Penrith Walks - Lady Anne Clifford
Brougham Castle, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
The 13th century castle was built on the site of an old Roman fort. The great keep built by Robert de Vieuxpont in the early 13th century largely survives. Originally this would have been surrounded by a wooden pallisaide, but when the castle passed to Robert Clifford in the 14th century, he did much refortification to protect it from the Scots. Clifford added a double gatehouse, replaced the wooden pallisaide with a stone curtain wall and built the residential Tower of League. In July 1300, Edward 1 stayed at the castle. Clifford was killed in 1314 at the Battle of Bannockburn and the castle then fell into disrepair until Lady Anne Clifford inherited it in 1643. She restored it as her country mansion and died there in 1676 aged 86.
Brougham Castle and the confluence of the Rivers Eamount and Lowther near Penrith in Cumbria.
Left to right is one of the two halls, the keep and the outer gatehouse.
The outer gatehouse and keep of Brougham Castle near Penrith in Cumbria.
The castle has two gatehouses for added protection. The first one you enter now is the outer gatehouse which was built around 1300 by Robert Clifford. To the left of the gatehouse stands the keep. The Keep is the oldest part of the castle still standing today. The lower three storeys of this massive structure were built be Robert de Vieuxpont in the early 13th century.
A view of Brougham Castle and a rain-filled moat from the west.
To the left of the photograph stands the inner gatehouse and to the right is the keep, both believed to have been built by Robert de Vieuxpont.
The inner courtyard of Brougham Castle near Penrith in Cumbria.
To the left of the photograph is the inner gatehouse and keep. To the right is the well, then the lodgings, chapel and kitchen.
The castle fell into a state of disrepair in the 17th century and suffered some damage at the hands of the Parliamentarians but Lady Anne Cliiford set about repairing it at a cost of £40,000. The castle was to become her country home and she died there in her rooms within the keep in 1676 at the grand age of 86.
The 1813 red sandstone Brougham Castle Bridge over the River Eamont near Penrith in Cumbria. The bridge was built to carry the Penrith-Appleby turnpike road over the river. It lies on the old boundary between Westmorland and Cumberland.
The Countess Pillar, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
Erected in 1656 by Lady Anne Clifford in memory of her mother, Margaret Clifford (né Russell), the Countess of Cumberland. Lady Anne also left an annual annuity of £4 for distribution to the poor. This money was placed on the Dolestone next to the pillar.
The Countess Pillar, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
Erected in 1656 by Lady Anne Clifford in memory of her mother, Margaret Clifford (né Russell), the Countess of Cumberland. Lady Anne also left an annual annuity of £4 for distribution to the poor. This money was placed on the Dolestone next to the pillar.
The Dolestone situated next to the Countess Pillar at Brougham near Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
Lady Anne Clifford left an annual annuity of £4 for distribution to the poor. This money was placed on the Dolestone.
Brocavvm Roman Fort, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
Brocavvm Roman Fort was built by Legion V111 in 76AD to defend the crossing point of the rivers Lowther and Eamont. The fort would have been manned by more than 1,000 men. A small settlement developed nearby to serve the fort and take advantage of passing trade between Carlisle and the port at Ravenglass.
Brougham Hall, Eamont Bridge, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
The earliest parts of Brougham Hall date from the 13th and 14th centuries, but much renovation and building work was carried out in the 17th century by Lady Anne Clifford. In the 1830s the hall was owned by the Lord Chancellor, Henry Brougham who invented the Brougham Carriage (the first one-horse carriage). In Victorian times the hall was known as the Windsor of the North, due to regular visits by Edward V11 and George V1. Prior to WW11 it was commandeered by Winston Churchill for the development of a secret tank. The hall was rescued from dereliction in 1985 and has undergone extensive renovation work. Brougham Hall is currently home to a cafe and craft workshops.
Brougham Hall door knocker, Eamont Bridge, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
One of four replicas of a 12th century knocker that was on the door of Durham Cathedral. The original is now in the cathedral’s treasury. This bronze replica was just cast in 1993. The first knocker here was cast in 1844 but was stolen after WW11. (Graffiti removed).
St Wilfrid's Church, Brougham Hall, Brougham, Penrith, Cumbria.
St Wilfred's Church was rebuilt on a medieval site for Lady Anne Clifford in 1658.
St Ninian's Church 'Ninekirks' at Brougham near Penrith in Cumbria.
The original Norman church on this site was completely rebuilt in 1660 by Lady Anne Clifford, and with the exception of the front porch, the building remains largely as it was in the 17th century. This unique and isolated little church was made redundant in 1977 and is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Grade 1 Listed. Grid Ref: NY 559 230.
The unique 17th century interior of the isolated St Ninian's Church 'Ninekirks' at Brougham near Penrith in Cumbria.
The original Norman church on this site was completely rebuilt in 1660 by Lady Anne Clifford and the building with its stone-flagged floor, box pews, pews with canopies and carved screen remain very much as they were in Lady Anne's day. This unique little church was made redundant in 1977 and is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Grade 1 Listed. Grid Ref: NY 559 230.
The initials of Lady Anne Clifford on the east wall of St Ninian's Church ('Ninekirks') at Brougham near Penrith in Cumbria.
The original Norman church on this site was completely rebuilt in 1660 by Lady Anne Clifford, who had inherited Brougham Castle as part of her family’s estate. St Ninian's' is very similar to St Wilfred's Church at Brougham which Lady Anne had also rebuilt two years previously.
The initials AP stand for “Anne of Pembroke" because Anne was the Countess of Pembroke.
A glimpse of the River Eden from the footpath to Ninekirks, St Ninian's Church at Brougham near Penrith in Cumbria
Penrith Castle, Penrith in the Eden Valley, of Cumbria.
Penrith Castle was built in the 14th century by William Strickland who became Bishop of Carlisle and then Archbishop of Canterbury. It was later developed by Ralph Neville who played a key role in defending the area against the Scots. In 1471 the castle was transformed into a grand residence by Richard, Duke of Gloucester who later became Richard III. This red sandstone castle has been a ruin since 1571. Free entry.
St Andrew's Church, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
The tower of St. Andrew's is all that remains of the original 13th century church. The walls are almost 2 metres thick and it would probably have been used as a fortified pele tower. Much building work was done in 1720 designed by Hawksmoor, a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren. The chandeliers in the nave recognise the bravery of the townsfolk who fought Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745..
The 10th century Giant's Grave, St. Andrew's Church, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
This legendary grave of Owen Caesarius (King of Cumbia 920-937AD) is a collection of two Anglian crosses and four hog-back Viking tombstones.
The grave was opened in the 17th century, revealing very long leg bones and a sword. Originally the crosses were much closer together and the hog-backs were just positioned between them during the 17th century.
The 10th century Giant's Grave, St. Andrew's Church, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
This legendary grave of Owen Caesarius (King of Cumbia 920-937AD) is a collection of two Anglian crosses and four hog-back Viking tombstones.
The grave was opened in the 17th century, revealing very long leg bones and a sword. Originally the crosses were much closer together and the hog-backs were just positioned between them during the 17th century.
The Giant's Thumb at St. Andrew's Church, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
The Giant's Thumb is a 10th century Anglian cross with a wheel head top. It was once used as the local pillory.
The former Dame Birkett's School, St. Andrew's Place, Penrith, Cumbria.
This Tudor building of 1563 was once a school for children of upper class families. William Wordsworth, his sister Dorothy and future wife Mary were pupils at Dame Birkett's School.
Musgrave Monument, Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
This clock tower in the centre of Penrith was built in 1861 by Sir George and Lady Musgrave in memory of their son, Philip.
The Town Hall, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
Adapted in 1905 from two 1792 classical houses designed by Robert Adams.
The former Public Library, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
Now part of the Town Hall, adapted in 1905 from two 1792 classical houses designed by Robert Adams.
William Wordsworth's cousins John and Richard Wordsworth, lived in the original building.
James and John Graham Family Grocers, established in 1793, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
The view towards Ullswater and the Lakeland fells from the Beacon on Beacon Pike, Beacon Hill, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
The present monument was built in 1719, on a spot where beacons have been lit to forewarn of Scottish raids since 1296. There has been a building here for more than 500 years.
Plague Stone, Penrith, Cumbria.
A plague in 1598 killed 2,260 townsfolk, and neighbouring farmers fearful of catching it, insisted the townsfolk pay for their produce by throwing coins into the disinfectant-filled stone at the edge of town.
The Robin Hood, Penrith, Eden, Cumbria.
William Wordsworth stayed here, nursing his dying friend Raisley Calvert.
The pair had walked from Keswick, trying to make their way to Portugal in the hope of curing Raisley's tuberculosis. Raisley was buried at Greystoke. He left William £900 in his will.