Built of Penrith red sandstone ashlar, the ruins of the castle are situated on slightly rising ground SE of the town of Kirkoswald on the route over the Pennines to Alston.The castle commands views SW towards the River Eden and Lazonby.
The overgrown moat, a N staircase tower with fragments of the adjoining hall walls and the bases of two S vaulted towers are all that remain visible of the castle.
Minstrels patronized by Thomas de Dacre are recorded elsewhere in the N in the mid-15th c. It is probable that they also performed at home for their lord although household accounts do not survive.
The ruins, obscured in a stand of trees in a farmer's field, are accessible from a public footpath. The site is not maintained and should be viewed with caution.
12th c. Ranulph Engayne built a wooden tower either on the present site of the castle or on a site to the W at the S end of the town, where there is a low rectangular mound in a double ditched rectangular enclosure.
by 1158 Ownership passed to the de Morville family by marriage.
1201 Sir Hugh de Morville received licence to crenellate his manor house and enclose a park.
1202 Acquired by Richard de Lucy of Egremont (d ca. 1215) via marriage to Sir Hugh's daughter Ada, and then by Thomas de Multon I, Ada's second husband.
ca. 1294 John de Castre (d ca. 1315) acquired castle via marriage to Isabel, widow of Thomas de Multon III. Both men made additions to the castle.
1314 The castle is said to have been burnt by the Scots.
ca. 1317 Randolph, Baron Dacre, acquired Kirkoswald via marriage to the heiress Margaret de Multon.
1485 The castle is described as 'newly built' on the death of Humphrey, Baron Dacre (a younger son of patron Thomas, Baron Dacre) (Graham 173). This may refer to the abandonment of the site of the old castle and the building of a new castle on the present site.
1485--1525 Humphrey's son Thomas, Baron Dacre finished the castle and added the moat. Thomas is credited with building the hall and chapel.
1569 Kirkoswald and Naworth acquired by Lord William Howard, son of Thomas, 4th Duke of Norfolk, via marriage to Elizabeth, sister and coheir of George, Baron Dacre (great-grandson of Thomas, Baron Dacre).
1580 A survey notes that the castle, '[f]or divers good considerations meet to be repaired...' (Curwen 150)
1604--33 Castle gradually dismantled and materials removed to Naworth Castle and other places.
1634 Upon the death of Randolf, the last male heir of the Dacres, the Dacre lands were claimed by Francis Lennard, Baron Dacre (descended from the heir general). He was awarded Dacre manor and other lands in Cumberland, including Kirkoswald and the ruinous castle.
1688 Castle described by Thomas Denton as a 'bare shell or heap of stones' (Curwen 151).
ca. 1715 Sold to Sir Christopher Musgrave of Edenhall.
REED York 1.68, 72
| Name | Dates | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Dacre, Thomas de | 1387-1458 | 6th Baron |
