Appleby Castle

-75 AD

Castle site built on the high ridge overlooking the crossing point of the River Eden. The site also held an important position on the route between York and Carlisle, known as  Eboracum and Luguvalium. Historians suggest that the area later had a motte and bailey castle of earthwork and timber, but no evidence remains due to the nature of the building materials. 

-1100

Ranulf le Meschin, the Earl of Chester, founded the first recorded castle, and historians believe that he built a motte and bailey structure of which earthwork traces remain. 

-1135

When Henry I died without a male heir, the kingdom was divided into factions between Empress Matilda and her cousin Stephen of Blois as successor. Taking advantage of the internecine royal conflict, King David invaded northern England and took control of Appleby Castle. 

He then granted the castle to his favourite, Hugh de Morville.

-1170

King David then granted the castle to his favourite, Hugh de Morville, who historians credit with building the famous Caesars Tower, a three-storey keep with walls 1.8 meters thick ( 5,9ft) 

When the royal conflict ended, Matilda's son, Henry II, took the throne and restored his kingdom. He allowed Hugh de Morville, son of Hugh de Moreville, to continue to reside in the castle. Hugh would later become infamous for his involvement in the murder of Thomas Becket. 

-1173

Hugh de Moreville lent his support of Henry against his father, Henry II, who conspired against the King with his brothers and King William of Scotland. King William seized the advantage, and after being unsuccessful at taking Carlisle Castle, he turned his attack to Appleby Castle, which surrendered without a fight. 

-1174

Henry II was victorious against the rebellion and captured King William the Lion at the Second Battle of Alnwick. Hugh de Moreville's estate and castle were forfeited to the Crown. Henry granted Appleby to his ally Ranulph de Glanville, the Sheriff of York, and extensively upgraded the castle.

Builders raised the keep height and replaced the ringwork rampart with a stone curtain wall. He also built the Great Hall incorporating the previous structure into a luxury residence with a central hall and chapel.

-1189

The Crown assumed ownership of the castle until 1203, when King John granted Appleby and estates to Robert de Vieuxpont. He likely built the round towers at this time.

-1227

Appleby Castle passed to Robert de Vieuxpont's son, who joined the rebellion of Simon de Monfort against Henry III. He died in the Battle of Lewes in 1264, leaving two daughters as wards of the court.

 Due to Robert's involvement in the rebellion, Roger Clifford took control of Appleby and secured his ownership by marrying Isabella, Robert's daughter.

-1314-1322

Lord Clifford lost his life in the Battle of Bannockburn, a crushing defeat for the English. Under Edward II's ineffective rule, the Scottish moved to gain independence from the English, repeatedly raiding North England, including Appleby. 

The Scottish repeatedly attacked the castle and town, burning the village each time but failing to take it. 

-1322

Roger Clifford joined the earl of Lancaster's 1322 rebellion against Edward II and, after defeat, forfeited the castle and lands to the Crown.

-1326

After Roger Mortimer overthrew Edward II, he restored the Clifford estates, and the Cliffords inherited Brough and Pendragon castles when Idonea, de Vieuxpont, daughter, died without an heir.

-1391

Historical records describe the castle as ruinous, but John Clifford inherited the castle and set about a series of upgrades. He rebuilt the gatehouse and restored the failing structures.

-1415

John Clifford's son, Thomas, inherited the castle and upgraded the residences. He added the square towers on the bailey curtain wall in a political time when most of the other castles fell into extensive decline. 

The Mid-1500s

The War of the Roses commenced dividing the English support between the two royal houses of Plantagenet, Lancaster, and York. Thomas Clifford lost his life supporting the Lancastrian cause at the Battle at St. Albans in 1455.

-1460 

Thomas' son, John, continued his father's support of the Lancaster cause, killing Richard Duke of York in the Battle of Wakefield. 

-1461 

The Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton, where John lost his life. Edward IV declared the Cliffords traitors and seized their estates, including Appleby Castle. 

He then gave the castle and estates to Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, while the Clifford heir, young Henry, hid in Cumbria.

-1485

The Crown restored the lands and castle to Henry Clifford after Tudory’s victory in the Battle of Bosworth Field. 

-1523–1529

The castle fell into neglect, and historical records again refer to the castle as a ruinous state. 

-1569 (Slighted)

The Crown ordered the castle slighted to ensure that it did not fall into rebel hands during the Rising of the North.

-1605

The last of the Clifford line, George Clifford, died without a male heir, and after an extensive battle, Anne Clifford inherited the castle and estates. Although she owned three other castles, she chose Appleby as her primary residence. 

She added corner turrets and put a cross-wall in the Keep to help it remain intact. Anne also filled in the ditches and demolished the wall. 

-1651

Sir Thomas Harrison occupied Appleby Castle as a parliamentarian stronghold during the English Civil War. Historians suggest that he ordered the original gatehouse destroyed to prevent Royalist forces from seizing the castle. 

-1651–1676

After the Royalist threat passed, Lady Anne Clifford once again resided in the castle until she died in 1676.

-1686–1688

The castle passed to the Earls of Thanet, who rebuilt the eastern range with stone plundered from Brough and Brougham Castles. They also converted the hall block into a classical mansion. 

-1849

Richard Tufton acquired the castle when the last Earl of Thanet died without an heir, and Tufton was the last earl's illegitimate son. Appleby remained in his family until 1962, when he sold it to a private buyer.

-1972  

Denis Vernon bought the castle, made it his primary residence, and lived with his family until 1990.

-Today

The Nightingale Family resides at the castle and allows visitors in the summer months. They also established The Norman Centre, which offers interactive virtual tours led by their ‘ghost’ tour guide, Caesar.