Lowther Castle

NY 52 SW LOWTHER LOWTHER

12/137 Lowther Castle 6.2.68 II*

Country house built as sham castle, now a ruin without roof. 1806-14 on site of medieval hall, by Sir Robert Smirke for 1st Earl of Lonsdale. Calciferous sandstone ashlar with string course and battlemented parapets. Tall central square stair tower behind, and projecting above, 3-storey, 3-bay centre flanked by 2-storey, 3-bay wings. Low flanking recessed 3-bay links to 2-storey, 3-bay end pavilions; each angle with either a circular or octagonal turret. Central porte-cochere has pointed arches under tracery stone panels, battlemented parapet and octagonal, panelled turrets. Central bays have mixed fenestration of 4-light Tudor window over porch and pointed-arched windows. Ground floor pointed-arched tracery windows in wings under 2-light Tudor-style windows. Pavilions have 2-light Tudor-style windows. All windows now without tracery or mullions. House was closed in 1935 (it had over 260 rooms and had cost £77,000) and partly used as a tank training range during World War II. Contents sold in 1947 and roof removed 1957. See Colvin, Crook & Friedman, Architectural Drawings from Lowther Castle, 1980: Transactions Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society, new series, lxxxi, pp.122-136 and lxxxiv, pp.191-204. See also D. Sutherland, The Yellow Earl, 1965, for the later history of the castle.

Listing NGR: NY5214823802