© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)
Kendal Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey fortification situated on a prominent hilltop overlooking the town of Kendal in Westmorland. The castle was founded in the late 12th century, likely by members of the Parr family, and consists of a substantial earthen mound with an associated bailey, representing the typical defensive architecture of the Norman period. The site may preserve evidence of an earlier ringwork beneath or adjacent to the later motte-and-bailey structure, suggesting multiple phases of fortification on this strategically important location. Today the monument survives primarily as earthworks, with the mound and defensive ditches remaining clearly visible, though above-ground stone structures have not survived to any significant height.
Kendal Castle and associated earthworks, and earlier ringwork is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1008901. View the official record →
Kendal Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey fortification situated on a prominent hilltop overlooking the town of Kendal in Westmorland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1008901.
Kendal Castle and associated earthworks, and earlier ringwork is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1008901.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Castlesteads small multivallate hillfort on The Helm (3.8 km), Part of Helsington medieval village immediately west of Briggs House Farm (4 km), Round cairn 230m north of Berry Holme (4.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Kendal Castle and associated earthworks, and earlier ringwork's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Kendal Castle and associated earthworks, and earlier ringwork stands on Silurian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Silurian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.