Castles in the Lune Valley
Lancaster Castle
The stone castle class includes perhaps the most obvious defensive and 'historic' site in the area, Lancaster Castle, which is situated on the top of a hill at the lowest fording point of the river Lune ( see map ). It is built on the site of a Roman fort and there has probably been a defensive site here since that time although the use of the existing castle buildings as a prison has not allowed sufficient investigation to confirm this. It is not named in the Domesday survey, the first mention being an entry in the pipe roles, dated 1202-3, when the keep needed repair. It has been suggested that prior to the construction of the stone castle the defences may have been earthworks within the circuit of the Roman defences. Whether these defences were in the form of a motte or a ringwork (a defended site comprising a large sub-circular bank with exterior ditch) is not known although the authors of the Victoria County History were in no doubt as to the existence of a motte. It has also been suggested that the stone castle has its origins in mid 12th century Scottish claims to the land north of the river Ribble. The castle currently comprises a large rectangular stone keep, a circuit of high masonry walls interrupted by various towers and a well-built gatehouse. Attached on the west side is the Victorian Shire Hall and court complex and within the courtyard are various buildings of Victorian and later date relating to its continuing use as a prison.
