Linstock Castle

Linstock Castle is a farmhouse that was originally a tower house, dating from the 12th or early 13th century. It served as a palace for the Bishops of Carlisle and has seen additions and alterations from the 17th to the 20th century. The tower features large blocks of red sandstone, primarily sourced from the nearby Roman Wall, with walls that are 2 meters thick and a slate gabled roof.

The structure has three storeys and one bay. The entrance on the ground floor has a chamfered rounded arch with a continuous hood-mould, which is currently obscured by ivy. Above this entrance, on the left, is the original first-floor entrance with a rounded arch that has been filled in. The windows were inserted in 1768 and have plain freestone surrounds, with sashes that include glazing bars. There is a 19th-century plank door. The east face of the tower has two round-headed lancets and one flat-headed chamfered lancet, all of which are now filled. The west face has a ground floor chamfered lancet, and there is a 20th-century steel casement window on the north face.

Inside, the ground floor features pointed arch vaulting and lacks stairs. The first-floor room connects to two second-floor rooms via a stair that is built into the thickness of the wall. Originally, the walls were higher with a flat roof, but this was reduced and gabled in 1768. There is a two-storey extension at right angles with two bays, built of sandstone rubble walls that are partly covered by render. This extension is likely from the early 17th century and incorporates parts of an earlier outbuilding. It features two 17th-century chamfered mullion windows with a mix of 19th and 20th-century sashes, including single glazing bars and steel casements. Additionally, there is an early 19th-century brick extension under the same roof and a 20th-century single-storey kitchen extension with two bays.

Nearby, the remains of an encircling moat can still be seen. Linstock Castle was used as a Bishops Palace from around 1219 to the early 14th century, later serving as a prison and a refuge for villagers during border raids. Notably, for six days in March 1307, Edward I, along with his Queen and Court, were entertained here while Parliament was held in Carlisle.