Captains Tower And Inner Bailey Walls

CARLISLE

NY3956SE CARLISLE CASTLE 671-1/6/13 Captains Tower and Inner Bailey 01/06/49 Walls

GV I

Gate tower and curtain walls. C12 walls, C13 tower with C14 modifications and some C19 alterations; walls partly rebuilt 1821-4 and 1834-5. Squared blocks of red and calciferous sandstone; walls battered, partly buttressed and partly with broad pilasters; tower with buttress, pilasters and flat lead roof. The inner bailey is roughly triangular comprising north, south and west walls. The west walls face into the outer bailey and have a central 3-storey square tower (an earlier blocked gateway can also be seen in this wall). At the front of the tower the portcullis slot and platform above have been cut away (c1919), exposing a pointed archway under 1819 blocked doorway and windows. Crenellation was also removed in 1819. The rear of the arch has blind C14 tracery under a Tudor mullioned window. INTERIOR not inspected. North wall is extensively buttressed (these partly collapsed in 1821 and had to be rebuilt). On the angle of the south and north walls was Queen Mary's Tower which had to be demolished in 1834-5 and rebuilt in 1835 with a plain crenellated wall. South walls look C12 with broad pilasters. Behind the west and south walls are earth embankments to take guns and a broad stepped ramp gives access to the west wall; beneath the northern part of the west walls are arched casements. The north parapet wall retains two C18 24-pounder cannons. For full details see McCarthy et al (1990).

Listing NGR: NY3972256238