Dacre Castle

Dacre Castle is a fortified tower house dating from the 14th century, with alterations made in the 17th and 19th centuries. It features extremely thick walls made of dressed mixed sandstone, which have offsets and rest on a chamfered plinth. The roof is concealed by battlemented parapets. The structure is a two-storey rectangular tower that includes a vaulted basement and angle turrets.

The entrance facade has an off-centre doorway with a stone surround, accessed by L-shaped stone steps. At the center of the facade is a 17th-century coat-of-arms of the Earl of Sussex. The windows are irregularly placed, featuring large 17th-century cross-mullioned designs, while the turrets have smaller loop and 2-light windows. The right and rear left turrets are larger and square, in contrast to the smaller opposing turrets that are set at a 45-degree angle. The larger rear turret was originally the entrance point and includes a newel staircase.

Inside, Dacre Castle retains many original features, such as fireplaces, an oven recess, mural chambers, and garderobes. For further historical context, see M.W. Taylor's "Old Manorial Halls of Westmorland & Cumberland" from 1892 and J.F. Curwen's "Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland & Westmorland" from 1913.