England · Restored
Appleby Castle
Appleby Castle is a medieval castle in Appleby-in-Westmorland centred on a 12th-century square keep known as Caesar's Tower and an attached mansion house set around a walled courtyard. The complex includes curtain walls, a battlemented gateway with adjoining cottages, and ancillary buildings such as Lady Anne's Beehouse; parts of the site now house a museum in the keep and the grounds are open to the public.
First raised
1120
Its prime
1695
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1695
The shape it held in its prime.
A tall, square 12th-century stone keep of grey rubble and ashlar rises above a low, battlemented curtain enclosing a rectangular courtyard; the keep has four storeys and a castellated parapet. Attached to it is a two-winged classical mansion with slate roofs and sash windows set at right angles, the north wing punctuated by a semicircular round tower and the east wing terminating in a large square tower. The courtyard has gravel approaches, clipped lawns, stone paving and a central stone well.
Its story
The story of Appleby Castle.
Ranulf le Meschin founded Appleby Castle at the beginning of the 12th century, overlooking the River Eden; the square stone keep known as Caesar's Tower followed in about 1170. The castle was in royal hands when William the Lion invaded the Eden Valley in 1174, and its constable surrendered without a fight.
King John granted the castle to Robert I de Vipont in 1203. In 1264 it passed to Roger de Clifford through his marriage to Isabel de Vipont, co-heiress of Robert II de Vipont, and remained with the Cliffords for nearly 400 years; the family carried out much restoration. The north wall of the house dates from the 13th century, its eastern part from the 15th.
On the death of Lady Anne (the last Clifford holder implied by the castle's Lady Anne's Beehouse), the castle passed to the Earls of Thanet. Ferguson Industrial Holdings purchased it in 1973 and it became the primary residence of Denis Vernon, the company's CEO. Caesar's Tower and the mansion house are each Grade I listed, and the uninhabited parts are a scheduled ancient monument.
Step inside
11 places to explore in 1695.
The record describes 11 distinct spots at Appleby Castle — including 1 interior: caesar's tower interior / norman centre chamber. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Appleby Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1695 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →Whose castle
Clans who held Appleby Castle.
The families that held Appleby Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
de Vipont
Granted to Robert I de Vipont by King John in 1203 and held by the Viponts until it passed by marriage to the Cliffords in 1264.
Clifford
Held by the Clifford family for nearly 400 years from 1264, after Roger de Clifford married Isabel de Vipont; the family restored much of the castle.
