Brougham Castle

- 1203 (Castle Land Granted to Vieuxpont)

King John granted Robert de Vieuxpont the Barony of Westmorland, which gave him lordship of Appleby, Brough, and Brougham.

- 1214 (Brougham Castle Founded)

After taking even more land, Vieuxpont began establishing a castle on the site. Originally, it included a stone keep, earthwork structures, and a simple palisade. 

- 1228 (Castle Falls Under Wardship)

Upon Robert de Vieuxpont’s death, his son and heir — John — was not yet old enough to inherit his father’s estate. As such, Brougham Castle was placed under the care of a temporary warden.

- 1241 (Castle in Disrepair)

Unfortunately for John de Vieuxpont, he would die before becoming old enough to take over the castle. His son, Robert, was also too young to take over, so the castle remained under the care of a warden. The young site was neglected and began to fall into disrepair.

- 1257 (Robert Takes Over)

After coming of age, Robert de Vieuxpont took over the site. However, he also owed numerous debts and revolted against the king during the Second Barons’ War. As such, he was executed as a traitor, with Brougham Castle and his other properties being taken by King Henry III.

- 1266 (Vieuxpont Daughters Inherit Brougham Castle)

After their father, Robert, was posthumously pardoned by King Henry III, the Vieuxpont daughters inherited Brougham Castle and the other estates. They were unable to take possession of the castle until marriage, so when Isabel Vieuxpont married Roger Clifford, the Vieuxpont estates came under ownership of the Clifford family.

- 1283-1292 (Roger Clifford’s Death)

Roger Clifford died in 1283 and his wife followed in 1292. Their son, Robert Clifford, was not of age and could not legally take ownership. As such, the castle fell into disrepair for the next three years.

- 1296 (Military Base and Fortifications)

Robert Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford, took over the castle after coming of age. During the Wars of Scottish Independence, he spent much of his time at Brougham Castle, refortifying the structure. He added a tower, replaced the palisade with a stone wall, added another storey and hall in the keep, and erected the double gatehouse.

- 1300 (King Edward I Visits)

Robert Clifford invited King Edward I to the castle. He arrived with an entourage of dozens of followers.

- 1309 (Rebuilding Completed)

A renewal licence was issued to Robert Clifford for the castle, suggesting rebuilding at Brougham Castle was complete.

- 1314 (Guardian Control)

After Robert Clifford’s death at the Battle of Bannockburn, Roger de Clifford, 2nd Baron de Clifford was set to inherit. However, he was not of age, so the site again fell under wardship.

- 1316-1318 (Scottish Raids)

Brougham Castle was damaged in Scottish raids, leaving the King to issue funds to Roger de Clifford to maintain the site.

- 1320 (Roger de Clifford Inherits)

Upon coming of age, Roger de Clifford took ownership of Brougham Castle. However, he did not spend much time at the fort, instead staying at Skipton.

- 1322 (Roger’s Execution)

Roger de Clifford was accused of being a traitor and executed. The Clifford estates were granted to Andrew de Harcla, a supporter of the King. However, when de Harcla was also ousted as a traitor, the site came under ownership of King Edward II. The site would return to the Cliffords during the reign of King Edward III.

- 1332-1333 (Robert de Clifford Takes Over)

When the estates were returned to the Clifford family, Robert de Clifford owned all of the lands originally owned by the Vieuxponts. During this time, Edward Balliol attempted to take over the Scottish throne and was cast out of the country. He would go on to stay with the Cliffords, occupying several castles, including Brougham.

- 1344 (Castle Neglected)

After suffering damage during the war, Brougham Castle was neglected and once again, fell into a state of disrepair.

- 1354 (Roger Clifford Takes Over)

Roger Clifford, 5th Baron Clifford, would assume ownership of Brougham Castle after two minorities.

- 1388-1389 (Castle Captured)

The Scots briefly captured Brougham Castle. After this point, the Cliffords spent less time at the fort. It would continue passing through several generations of the family, with some using it as a residence. After Roger Clifford’s death in 1389, the site was no longer used as a residence until 1421.

- 1471-1485 (Sir William Parr Takes Over)

King Edward IV confiscated the castle from the Cliffords, granting their properties to Sir William Parr. A year later in 1472, Henry Clifford would appeal this decision which was granted 13 years later.

- 1521 (Administrative Centre)

Brough Castle suffered extensive damage in a fire. As a result, Brougham Castle served as an administrative centre for the Lordship in the area. During this time, Henry Clifford and his son used the castle as a family residence.

- 1536 (Cliffords Resume Control)

Henry Clifford’s son, also Henry, became the Earl of Cumberland. However, after the suppression of the Pilgrimage, his title was no longer entitled to wardenship of Penrith. As such, the castle once again became property of the Cliffords.

- 1592-1595 (Castle Deserted)

When George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, took control of Brougham, the castle fell into disrepair. He did not spend time at the site, instead staying in southern England.

- 1605 (Margaret’s Favourite Residence)

Upon the death of George Clifford, his widow — Margaret — used Brougham Castle as her home. She undertook numerous repairs. Upon her death, Margaret’s daughter, Lady Anne Clifford, would continue her mother’s restoration work.

- 1616-1617 (Lady Anne Clifford’s Temporary Inheritance)

The Earl of Cumberland appealed Lady Anne Clifford’s entitlement to Brougham Castle and the other Clifford estates. He was unsuccessful, and Anne took ownership. However, a year later, the King granted the Clifford estates to Francis Clifford, 4th Earl of Cumberland. During this time, King James I stayed at Brougham Castle on his journey to Scotland.

- 1641-1643 (Lady Anne Clifford Resumes Ownership)

After Francis Clifford’s death and the death of his son two years later, there were no male Clifford heirs, which led the castle to fall back under the ownership of Lady Anne. During this time, she would continue restoration work until her death in 1676.

- 1648 (Colonel John Lambert Takes Over)

Parliamentary forces took over Brougham Castle. Fortunately, the sight was not slighted, as it was not considered important.

- 1650 (More Repairs)

Lady Anne Clifford repaired damage to the castles, making Brougham Castle her primary residence. She erected a garden on the site of the old Roman fort.

- 1676 (Nicholas Tufton Takes Over)

Upon Lady Anne’s death at the castle, her grandson, Nicholas Tufton, 3rd Earl of Thanet, assumed ownership of the Clifford estates.

- 1679-1714 (Tufton Descendants)

Unfortunately, Nicholas Tufton did not live long. Upon his death, the castle passed to his younger siblings, where it suffered from neglect. In 1714, Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Tanet, took furnishings and materials from the site to sell.

- 1750-1794 (Building Material)

Brougham Castle had long been deserted. At this point, it was being used for building material for the nearby village. By 1794, the site had become nearly unrecognisable in its dilapidated state.

- 1830-1850s (Castle Repairs)

When Charles Tufton, 10th Earl of Thanet, came into possession of the castle, he spent a small sum of money to repair parts of the structure. Additional repairs were completed by Henry Tufton, 11th Earl of Thanet, in the 1840s. Upon Henry Tufton’s death, the Hothfields took ownership but could not afford to maintain the site. By the late-1850s, the site began to decay further.

- 1915 (Ancient Monument)

Brougham Castle was classified as an Ancient Monument and began receiving public interest.

- 1927-1930s (Office of Works)

The 2nd Baron Hothfield placed the castle under the guardianship of the Office of Works, who repaired the site.

- 1984 (English Heritage)

English Heritage began managing Brougham Castle.