A fortified medieval border house standing on a spur of high ground 8 km NNE of Brampton, on the road skirting the SW flank of the Cheviots between Gilsland and Bewcastle.
A private residence on the Askerton Castle Estate, an organic farm. Not open to the public.
1317 Askerton acquired by Randolf, 1st Baron Dacre via marriage to the heiress Margaret de Multon.
14th c. Rectangular, flat-roofed tower house built.
later 15th c. Camden writes 'The Barons Dacre built Askerton, a little castle wherein the Governor of Gilsland kept a garrison.'
ca. 1494 Thomas, 3rd Baron Dacre of Gilsland, replaced flat roof with a gabled roof.
1500--10 Lord Dacre added towers at either end of the main residential block and possibly the curtain wall.
16th c. N and W ranges (which included the Great Hall) added.
1567 Dismantled after the rising of the North upon the attainder of Leonard Dacre. The Dacre estates passed to the Howard Dukes of Norfolk, via marriage to the Dacre coheiresses.
1570s--1598 Askerton in posession of the Land Serjeants of Gilsland, the Carletons.
1580 A survey describes the castle as 'partly decayed.'
1589 'Askerton is at this present time in very great decay. If the same were in good repair it were a house of very good receipt, and of convenient strength against any common or sudden assailing by the Scots....'
1590 The castle is described as 'sore spoiled.'
1598 Askerton castle and manor and the office of Land Serjeant granted to John Musgrave. It is described in this year as 'a house of good strength and defence.'
1622 In the possession of Lord William Howard, whose household book records a payment to the maids at Askerton.
1850s Most of the castle refenestrated by Salvin.
1921 Inherited by Lady Dorothy Henley, daughter of George James Howard, 12th Earl of Carlisle.
1920s Further restoration by Warre.
1958 Inherited by Lady Dorothy Henley's son, Roger Eden.
1993 Bequethed to Roger Eden's daughter Jane Eden (the present owner).
