Dalton Castle

BARROW IN FURNESS

SD2273 MARKET PLACE, Dalton In Furness 708-1/11/181 Dalton Castle 25/02/50

GV I

Pele tower. Mid C14, repaired 1545, remodelled c1704, and in 1856 by Sharpe and Paley (drawing); reroofed 1907. Limestone rubble with red sandstone dressings, slate roof. Now 2 storeys, rectangular. Chamfered plinth, large quoins. Doorway in south side has double-chamfered arch and hoodmould; renewed 4-light window above inserted 1856; it has king mullion, cusped tracery under round arch with hoodmould. West side has small round-arched door with slit windows of spiral stair above; restored 2-light window on right has ogee-headed lights, pointed arch and hoodmould; string course beneath smaller window in same style. East side has no plinth and no windows to ground floor; square-headed single-light window on left of blocked 2-light mullioned window; above which are 2 pointed-arched windows with cusped ogee lights and hoodmoulds. Moulded oversailing course beneath ashlar sandstone parapet with slits, one medieval gargoyle, triangular copings built-up in 3 courses and figure to north-east corner. INTERIOR: remodelled, present staircase of 1845. Corbels show original floor levels. 2 original fireplaces to east wall, that in chamber with trefoil beneath keel-moulded arch with keystone. Ogee door-heads to the stair turret and to upper west window. Built to resist the Scottish invasions of the early-mid C14; later served as court house and prison. Given to the National Trust in 1965. Scheduled Ancient Monument. (Trans. of Cumberland & Westmoreland Archaeol. & Antiquarian Soc.: Gaythorpe H: Dalton Castle: 1910-: 312-330).

Listing NGR: SD2261673944