English Heritage

12th-15th CenturiesBesieged

The Scots hold the town and castle to siege in 1173, 1174, 1216, 1296, 1297, 1315 and 1461, making it the most frequently besieged place in the British Isles.

1122The Castle Fortified

Henry I visits Carlisle and orders that the castle be fortified. This may be the origin of the keep.

Read a description of Carlisle Castle

1308Added Comfort

Queen Mary's Tower is added to provide better accommodation.

15th-Early 16th CenturiesBorder Reivers

Families and clans on both sides of the border form armed bands of 'reivers' who regularly rob and pillage their neighbours, causing a prolonged economic decline.

16th CenturyRenovations

Henry VIII orders a review of Carlisle's defences, resulting in the largest building campaign since the 12th century.

1567Expensive Royal Guest

Mary, Queen of Scots, flees to England and is housed in the Warden's Tower, later Queen Mary's Tower, at Elizabeth I's expense.

1596Great Escape

The castle is used as a reivers' prison. The notorious reiver William Armstrong ('Kinmont Willie') is rescued when armed friends use ladders to break into the castle.

1641-5Surrender to Starvation

In the Civil War the castle is garrisoned for Charles I. The Scots and Parliamentarians starve out the castle. Almost a year later, the garrison finally surrenders.

1745-6Second Jacobite Rising

Prince Charles Edward Stuart takes the city and castle with 400 men. The Duke of Cumberland besieges the castle and the Jacobites surrender. Many are imprisoned and 31 are executed.

19th CenturyModern Garrison

Fearing revolution, the government maintains several provincial garrisons. Carlisle Castle becomes an important army barracks.

20th CenturyLost to History

Many features are destroyed or altered. A dual carriageway separates castle from city.

21st CenturyCurrent Uses

English Heritage shares the castle with the Territorial Army, the county's emergency planning services and Cumbria's Museum of Military Life.

Learn more about the history of Carlisle Castle