NEWS

The three cottages in the inner bailey undergo a total restoration and allow holiday and wedding guests to stay.

The Castle was closed throughout March to July 2020 following the Government’s coronavirus advice. In August, the Castle re-opened to welcome holiday guests and day visitors.

Castle re-opens for guided tours, conferences and weddings.

Castle is owned solely by Mrs Nightingale – the first female owner since Lady Anne Clifford.

Public enquiry into plans for development of the Castle. Foot and Mouth ravages Cumbria.

Castle sold to a private buyer.

Castle sold to Ferguson International plc who use it as their headquarters. Castle opened to the public.

The Hothfield family sell the Castle to a private buyer.

Henry Tufton, son of Sir Richard, is created first Baron Hothfield (of Hothfield in Kent) and becomes closely involved with Appleby.

The 11th and last Earl of Thanet dies unmarried in France. The Castle and estate passes to his illegitimate son, Richard Tufton, born in 1813, who becomes a British subject and is made a Baronet in 1851.

Castle the country seat of the Earls of Thanet (3rd Earl married Lady Anne’s eldest daughter).

Main eastern range of the castle rebuilt by Lady Anne’s grandson, Thomas 6th Earl of Thanet, fourth son of her daughter Margaret.

Lady Anne Clifford dies at Brougham Castle.

Lady Anne continues building work in Appleby, completing Hospital of St Anne and restoring St Lawrence’s Church.

Lady Anne begins restoration of Appleby Castle, inserting a cross-wall in the Keep and adding the corner turrets. Civil War flares up and Castle occupied by a Parliamentary army under the Regicide, General Thomas Harrison.

Lady Anne at last travels to Skipton and onwards to Appleby following a lull in the Civil War and the execution of King Charles I.

Lady Anne inherits the Westmorland and Yorkshire estates on the death of her cousin the 5th Earl of Cumberland. However she is unable to visit them because of the Civil War.

Lady Anne marries Philip Herbert, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery.

The Earl of Dorset dies.

Furious dispute over Westmorland estates. King James I confirms Lady Anne’s dispossession.

Lady Anne Clifford married Richard Sackville, Earl of Dorset.

George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, dies leaving estates to his brother the 4th Earl. Lady Anne disinherited.

Appleby described by Leland as “a poor village, having a ruinous Castle wherein the prisoners be kept”.

Rebellion in the North known as ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’. Henry Clifford defended Skipton and his son, Sir Thomas, defended Carlisle.

Shepherd Lord, Henry Clifford dies.

Lordship of Westmorland held by Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III). Appleby Castle probably in the hands of Sir John Parr of Kendal.

John Clifford killed in battle. Lancastrian cause destroyed at Towton. John Clifford attainted (declared traitor) by Yorkist King Edward IV.

John Clifford kills the Duke of York and his young son the Earl of Rutland, earning the nick-name ‘the Butcher’.

Further Scots raids. No assizes (Royal Court sessions) at Appleby.

John Clifford assumes his father’s lands and titles. Becomes major Lancastrian leader in the North.

Thomas Clifford killed at 1st battle of St Albans, possibly by Richard Neville Earl of Warwick (‘Warwick the Kingmaker’).

John Clifford killed at siege of Meaux.

John Clifford fights at Againcourt. Castle used as a court and prison.

John, seventh Lord Clifford builds great gatehouse and probably restores the rest of the Castle.

Thomas Clifford, son of Roger, dies on crusade. Appleby Castle said to be “ruinous”.

Major Scottish raids. Appleby town laid waste, but the Castle seems to have held out and not been captured.

Roger, fifth Lord Clifford inherits the Castle, carries out further works there.

Death of Idonea de Leyburn without children. Her lands pass to Robert Clifford, who entertains King Edward Balliol of Scotland at Brougham.

King Edward II overthrown, succeeded by his son King Edward III. Peace with Scotland. Robert, 3rd Lord Clifford, brother of Roger, restored to family estates including Appleby Castle.

Roger, second Lord Clifford, rebels against King Edward II and is wounded and captured. He escapes execution but his lands are forfeited. Appleby Castle briefly held by Andrew de Harcla before his execution for treason.

Scottish raids. Appleby town burnt. Castle holds out against Scots in four attacks.

Robert Clifford, first Lord Clifford, one of the English commanders, killed at Bannockburn.

King Edward I visits Appleby, lodging at the Friary.

Wardship of Isabella granted to Roger Clifford the elder – who obtains pardon for treason of his ward’s father.

The second Robert de Vipont takes part in Simon de Montfort’s rebellion against King Henry III. He dies a rebel in 1264 and his estates are seized by King Henry III. His daughters Isabella and Idonea are placed under the King’s guardianship.

King John gives the Barony of Westmorland, including the Castle to his henchman Robert de Vipont, nephew of Hugh de Morville, whose family hold it for 100 years. The Round Tower on the north side dates from this period, with other Round Towers on the south, now vanished.

King Henry II grants the Castle and the Honour of Westmorland to Ranulph de Glanville, Sheriff of Yorkshire. Sometime between 1175 and 1189 the Keep is raised, the curtain walls rebuilt in stone, and a Great Hall is built at the east end of the bailey.

King William the Lion of Scotland captures Appleby Castle in a dawn raid, aided by the garrison. The Castle and Tower are recorded by Jordan Fantosme in his chronicle, showing both were present. The constable, Gospatric, son of Orm and grandson of Gospatric, a Scottish Earl, fined five hundred marks for surrendering. Hugh de Morville’s estates are forfeit. Appleby returns to the Crown.

De Morville supports a rebellion by King Henry’s son, who allied himself with the Scots.

The Romans build a signal station on the cliff overlooking the ford on the River Eden, close to the road from York (Eboracum) to Carlisle (Luguvallium).

Ceded to Scots. Hugh de Morville and his son, also Hugh, in succession granted Barony of Westmorland.

Ranulf le Meschin completed earthworks and probably built first stone keep.

King William Rufus of England occupied Cumbria and installed Ivo Taillebois as first Norman Lord of Westmorland. Ivo began building first motte and bailey castle earthwork.

After driving the Danes from York, King Edmund I of England turned Cumbria over to Malcolm I, King of the Scots, in return for a promise of military support.

Appleby founded as a Danish settlement, the name meaning ‘apple-place’.

Part of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria. An independent British Kingdom of Cumbria remained in the northern Lake District.

Urien, King of Rheged, was lord of the valley of Lyvennet, a few miles west of Appleby.