Clan Rising
Scaleby Castle today

England · Restored

Scaleby Castle

Scaleby Castle is a medieval castle in the village of Scaleby, Cumbria, originally founded in the early 14th century and substantially remodelled in the late 15th century. It sits within a large circular, water-filled moat and developed as a fortified manor with a pele tower, curtain walls, a gateway with a polygonal barbican and ranges around a central courtyard. The site is a Grade I listed building and remains a private seat.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1490

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1490

What Scaleby Castle looked like in its prime.

Scaleby Castle occupies a roughly circular island set inside a wide, water-filled moat about 7–8 metres across, with an outer bank and surrounding fields; a compact arrangement of stone ranges and a rectangular pele tower rise from the island. The entrance is defended by a pronounced gateway with a polygonal barbican and linked curtain wall. Rooflines are pitched with visible chimneys; a rectangular courtyard sits between the south range and the pele tower.

Its story

The story of Scaleby Castle.

Scaleby Castle began in the early 14th century, when Robert Tilliol was given the land by Edward I and granted the authority to build a castle by Edward II. The Tilliols had been well established in the region since the reign of Henry I. Extended in the 15th century into a substantial fortification, it developed as a fortified manor within a large circular water-filled moat, with a pele tower, curtain walls and a gateway with a polygonal barbican.

The male Tilliol line died out in 1435 and the castle passed by marriage to the Colville family. The Musgraves acquired it later, and Sir Edward Musgrave rebuilt the south range in 1596; Parliamentary troops attacked the castle twice during the Civil War, burning it, and Sir Edward, heavily in debt, sold it after the war to Richard Gilpin, who restored the property.

Restored to form a country house, Scaleby remains a private seat, today of Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley, and is protected as a Grade I listed building.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1490.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Scaleby Castle, including 3 interiors: passage through the gateway, great hall, pele tower interior (first floor). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the moatBarbican (exterior)Passage through the gatewayCentral courtyardGreat HallPele tower interior (first floor)Pele tower roof and silhouetteSouth range exteriorMoat walk and island bank

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Whose castle

Clans who held Scaleby Castle.

The families that held Scaleby Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Tilliol

    Granted land by Edward I and licence by Edward II in the early 14th century; held until the male line died out in 1435.

  • Colville

    The castle passed to the Colvilles by marriage in 1435.

  • Musgrave

    Acquired the castle and rebuilt the south range in 1596; sold, heavily in debt, after the Civil War.

  • Gilpin

    Bought by Richard Gilpin after the Civil War, who restored the property.

  • Eden

    The present seat of Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley.

From the archive

Scaleby Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

SCALEBY, Scaleby Castle

SCALEBY

1897 · J. D. Mackenzie, The Castles of England, vol. 2 (1897)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Scaleby Castle.

Vindolanda, EnglandAncient siteVindolanda32 km awayHadrian's Wall, ScotlandAncient siteHadrian's Wall37 km away

Questions about Scaleby Castle

What is the history of Scaleby Castle?

Scaleby Castle’s history began in the early 14th century as a fortified manor built for Robert Tilliol. The Tilliol male line ended in 1435, and the castle passed by marriage to the Colvilles, who remodelled much of it in the late 15th century. The Musgraves later acquired it; Parliamentary attacks during the Civil War caused a fire, after which Richard Gilpin bought and restored the property.

What is inside Scaleby Castle?

Inside Scaleby Castle, the documented spaces include the passage through the gateway, the Great Hall and the interior of the pele tower on its first floor. The late-15th-century remodelling included the great hall, gateway and pele tower. The castle also contains a small central courtyard between its ranges and tower.

Why was Scaleby Castle built, and what was it used for?

Scaleby Castle was built as a fortified manor and substantial fortification, providing defended accommodation within curtain walls, a pele tower and a water-filled moat. It later became a country house after restoration. The site therefore changed from a defensive medieval complex into a restored residential property.

Where is Scaleby Castle?

Scaleby Castle is in the village of Scaleby, in Cumbria, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Carlisle. It stands within the village landscape, surrounded by fields and a large circular moat. Carlisle is the nearest recognised city named in the supplied description.

When was Scaleby Castle built?

Scaleby Castle was first built in the early 14th century, after 1307, and was extended in the 15th century. The Colvilles rebuilt much of it in the late 15th century, including the pele tower, Great Hall and gateway. The south range was rebuilt again by Sir Edward Musgrave in 1596.

Was Scaleby Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Scaleby Castle was besieged twice by Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War. In February 1645, forces besieging nearby Carlisle seized the castle and caused considerable damage, although Edward Musgrave recovered it. In 1648, during the Second English Civil War, Parliamentary forces captured it again and set it on fire.

Which family or clan held Scaleby Castle?

Scaleby Castle was held by the Tilliol family from its foundation until the male line died out in 1435. It then passed by marriage to the Colvilles, before being acquired by the Musgraves. After the Civil War, Richard Gilpin bought the castle and restored it; it is now the seat of Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley.

What did Scaleby Castle look like in its prime?

At its prime, Scaleby Castle was a compact stone complex on a roughly circular island inside a wide, water-filled moat about 7–8 metres across. Its silhouette included a rectangular pele tower, pitched roofs and visible chimneys. A pronounced gateway with a polygonal barbican and curtain wall defended the entrance, while ranges surrounded a central courtyard.

Is Scaleby Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Scaleby Castle is still standing and has been restored rather than left as a ruin. The surviving complex includes stone ranges, a rectangular pele tower, curtain walls, a gateway and polygonal barbican around a central courtyard. It was damaged and burned during the Civil War, then restored by Richard Gilpin and restored again later by Rowland Fawcett.

Does anyone live at Scaleby Castle now?

Scaleby Castle is a private seat today, and it is the seat of Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley. Its private residential status is distinct from its heritage protection: the castle is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.

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