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.
Its prime
1490
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1490
The shape it held 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 walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Scaleby Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1490 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →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.
