Name: Piel Castle
Rating: 5.0

Piel Castle

Piel Island, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness LA13 0QN, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Piel Castle accessible only via a small boat ferry, this 14th century fortress was built by the Abbot of Furness to guard Barrow-in-Furness against pirates and Scots raiders. Lambert Simnel, pretender to Henry VII's throne, landed here in 1487. The massive keep, inner and outer baileys and the towered curtain walls are still standing.

Perched on the south-east tip of Piel Island, the imposing Piel Castle is visible from around Morecambe Bay. The site is dominated by the massive keep, which is enclosed by both an inner and an outer bailey, each bordered by a ditch and set with corner towers. The stone used to construct the castle was taken from the beach, although red sandstone was imported for architectural details.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Piel Castle: Perched on the south-east tip of Piel Island, the imposing Piel Castle is visible from around Morecambe Bay. The site is dominated by the massive keep, which is enclosed by both an inner and an outer bailey, each bordered by a ditch and set with corner towers. The stone used to construct the castle was taken from the beach, although red sandstone was imported for architectural details.
Although the large windows on the upper floors of Piel Castle keep give it the appearance of a comfortable residence, it is generally thought that the castle was erected for defensive reasons.
In 1327 John Cockerham, Abbot of Furness, was granted a ‘licence to crenellate’ by Edward III, suggesting that he may have been fortifying an existing building. At this time much of northern England was troubled by Scottish raids, and the monks of Furness wished to establish a place of safety. They probably also wanted to monitor traffic passing through Piel Harbour on its way to their holdings in Ireland and the Isle of Man, and to protect cargoes from the weather, raiders and pirates.
Quarrels over trade (and charges of smuggling) meant that the monks were not always on the best of terms with the king. On 4 June 1487 Lambert Simnel landed on Piel Island from Ireland, with an 8,000-strong army of mercenaries. The son of an Oxford tradesman, he claimed to be the Earl of Warwick and thus rightful heir to the English throne. He marched on London, but was defeated and captured at Newark by Henry VII and his forces.
Description: The best place to begin a tour of the castle is at the ruinous, though once ornate, tower that marks the north-east corner of the outer bailey and may have originally formed part of the outer gate. The low structure immediately below it has traditionally been interpreted as the chapel. Walking beside the curtain wall, you will encounter two other simple, two-storeyed towers.
Occupied by the three-storey keep, the inner bailey, entered through the gatehouse in the western wall, is much smaller than the outer. The way into the keep lies on the first floor of the integral two-storey gatehouse. Above the entrance is a worn carved grotesque, usually identified as Salome.
The upper floors probably housed the important chambers, with the ground floor being used as storage space. The tower at the south-east corner may have contained private apartments. Unusually the keep has two spine walls, instead of one, dividing it into three parallel sections.

Facilities

Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours. Access by ferry not managed by English Heritage.

Address: Piel Island, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness LA13 0QN, UK

Post Code: LA13 0QN

Council: Westmorland and Furn

County: Cumbria

Road Access: Via ferry from Roa Island, accessible by road 3 1⁄4 miles SE of Barrow-in-Furness.
Bus Access: Blueworks Taxis service 11 Barrow-in Furness – Ulverston Roa Island and then ferry to Piel Castle.
Train Access: Barrow-in-Furness 4 miles.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Ferry Access: From Easter until September, approx. 11am until 6pm daily, two ferries operate services from Roa Island to Piel Island (subject to tides and weather). Call in advance Steve Chattaway (Ship Inn) on 07516 453784 or Alan Cleasby on 07798 794550. There is a charge for the ferry.