There was castle erected here in Norman times around 1092, which is believed to have been destroyed by Scots invaders in 1173, and the castle which we see today was built between 1361 and 1371 by John de Strivelyn, one of the king's generals.

The south wall survives almost to its original height.

The castle was originally surrounded by a moat, but this has long since dried up, leaving a grassy trench all round.

The castle stands on a lonely windswept spot. To the east is the vast wilderness of Spadeadam, one of the largest uninhabited areas in Britain, used by the government in the 1950's for testing engines for the Blue Streak rocket, and now used by the Royal Air Force as a practice bombing range.

A self portrait within the area of the castle walls, Black Watch acrylic kilt from Union Kilts.