Penrith Castle Comes to Life in Virtual Reconstruction as Town Hosts International Medieval Castles Conference

A virtual reconstruction of Penrith Castle as it may have looked in the late 15th century has been completed by Pete Urmston, in collaboration with Dr Will Wyeth of English Heritage.  The reconstruction was funded by the Castle Studies Trust 

The trust was founded in 2012, and awards individual grants of up to £10,000 to promote the understanding of castles in the UK and abroad. Since 2012 the trust has awarded over £260,000 of grants to further the understanding of castles, funded entirely by donations from the public.

The reconstruction of Penrith castle at this point of history was chosen after the third and final stage of major building works, which took place under the stewardship and guidance of Richard Duke of Gloucester, who later became Richard III, while staying in nearby Dockray Hall.


The reconstruction is based on the above photograph and captured several parts of the site which the project wanted to reconstruct – the great hall with access stairs, Red Tower and parts of the Gloucester-era gatehouse. It incorporates the part of the castle most familiar to passers-by – the Red Tower – and an assemblage of standing features which in general visitors find difficult to understand. 

The chosen perspective also granted greater flexibility to create scenes of human interaction in the foreground of the image which might populate the castle and convey a sense of Penrith’s medieval community. 

The reconstruction was populated with a scene from its tenure by Richard of Gloucester – a meeting of castle staff with tenants and poor folk to hear pleas. A single figure who is attested at the castle and whose presence would be in keeping with a day-to-day scene in castle life in the late 15th-century is represented: Sir Christopher Moresby, depicted on the far left standing with a staff and wearing a green coat.

Penrith Castle was built at the end of the 14th century by Ralph Neville, who played a key role in the defence of the Scottish border.

Ralph Neville (about 1364–1425) was granted the manor of Penrith in 1396 and built the castle soon afterwards. As warden of the West March, he was responsible for the defence of this area against the Scots.

Its location was chosen because it was probably the site of an old Roman fort, the banks and ditches of which could be conveniently re-used for their defensive function.

His son Richard, 5th Earl of Salisbury (1400–60), made it his headquarters, probably building the ‘Red Tower’ and improving the entrance defences.

Following the death of Richard Neville (‘the Kingmaker’), 16th Earl of Warwick and 6th Earl of Salisbury, in 1471, the castle was granted to Richard, Duke of Gloucester (1452–85), who later became King Richard III.

The future king resided at the castle for periods between 1471 and 1485, as he held the position of sheriff of Cumberland. His role was to secure the county against the Scots and keep rival local families under control.

The new reconstruction aims to place the people of Penrith Castle at the centre of its re-imagination, while bringing back its lost buildings and interiors. In time the image will feature on a new panel scheme in the castle.


Dr Will Wyeth (Properties Historian at English Heritage) says of the reconstruction:

“Penrith Castle is a cherished asset to the people of Penrith. The remains of the castle can be difficult to understand, but it is our hope that this new image will shed light on its medieval heyday. Thanks to the artistic skill of Pete Urmston, the insight of English Heritage volunteer Joanna, and a generous grant from The Castle Studies Trust, we have brought medieval Penrith Castle to life.”

Castle Studies Trust Chair of Trustees Jeremy Cunnington says:

"The Castle Studies Trust is delighted with the results of this project as it brings to life how the castle would have looked at its zenith in the late 15th Century.”

 

Penrith Castle has also this week been under the microscope with other castles in Cumbria as the town played host venue to the international conference on medieval castles. 

The conference that was held from the 28th September until 4th October, organised by the 'Colloques Chateau Gaillard', a collective of archaeologists and historians which comes together every two years. 

Penrith was used as their base to explore castles of Cumbria. With part of the conference dedicated to the presentation of academic papers reporting recent research on castles in different parts of Europe. But some of the week was used to visit castle sites in Cumbria including Penrith Castle and nearby Brougham Castle.

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