Penrith Castle
Penrith Castle is a ruined fourteenth and fifteenth-century castle in Penrith in Cumbria, built to defend the town against Scottish raids in the period of persistent Border warfare following the Wars of Independence. The castle was developed over several phases from 1399 onward and was associated with Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III, who held the castle as Warden of the Western Marches. The substantial ruins include the remains of the main tower and curtain walls and are set within a public park in the centre of Penrith, providing a freely accessible heritage site within the town. Penrith is an attractive market town on the eastern edge of the Lake District and the M6 motorway corridor, serving as a gateway to the northern Lakes for visitors travelling from the north and east.