Muncaster Castle.(Ghost Sighting)

MUNCASTER CASTLE

Mulcaster Family

Cradle of the de Mulcasters was Mulcaster (now Muncaster), is in the south of Cumberland.

According to John Denton they were an offshoot of the de Pennington's, lords of that place. One of them, Benedict de Pennington, whose name occurs in the Pipe Roll of 1185, had a younger son David, known as " David de Mulcaster," and founder of -the family which bore that distinctive surname. David had a younger son Adam de Mulcaster, father of Robert.

(Accompt, edit. Ferguson, p.119 * {* He may have gleaned his information from the records of Furness Abbey -see Furness Coucher, edit. Brownbill, Chetham Society's publications, vol. lxxvi, pp. 561-6} ,

'That bare statement is not supported by any evidence.

A clue to the genealogy of the family is furnished by the Plea Rolls de Banco, Hilary, 5-6 Edward III, m. 98 dorso, respecting land in Bolton and Uckmanby from which it appears that Robert de Mulcaster had three sons,

1. Walter who died without issue;

2. William who had issue Robert; and

3. Robert who had issue Walter

(Genealogist, N.S., vii, 240).

There is another pedigree, which a younger branch of the family settled at Charlwood, Surrey, recorded at the, Heralds' Visitation of that county in 1623. (Harleian Society's Publications, xliii, P. 130)

It traces descent from a certain Sir Richard Mulcaster, knight, and bears a note that "this Sir Richard was commanded by King William Rufus, in the sixth year of his reign, to reside at, Brackenhill, and four other knights against the Scots." It adds that his son Sir Geoffrey was -"committed to ward for killing the King's deer," and continues to trace descent, through Sir Richard, Sir Marmaduke and another Sir Richard, to Sir Walter Mulcaster, who "in the battle of Carlaverock had the leading of the middle ward, where King Edward Longshanks was himself in person," and represents him as being the father of the earliest Sir Robert Mulcaster. These and other allegations, made in the Surrey pedigree with regard to the origin and history of the family, are not consistent with the other published documents. In Henry III's reign, Robert de Mulcaster was witness to a grant of common pasture in Bothilton (Bolton), made to the Abbey of Holm Cultram

(Nicolson and Burn, ii, 148).

And in 1246-7, Robert de Mulcaster acquired from William, son of William de Ulvesby, three carucates of land at Torpenhow

(these Transactions, N.S. vii, P. 224).

It is convenient to note that the parish of Torpenhow comprises four townships, namely,

1. Torpenhow cum Whitrigg

2. Blennerhasset cum Kirkland

3. Bothel cum Threapland

4. Bewaldeth cum Snittlegarth

In each of those townships

the Mulcasters were from time to time holders of land.

Exemption for life was granted, in 1256, to a certain Robert de Mulcaster from being put on assizes and being made sheriff against his will (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 40 Hen. III, P. 504)

On May 24th, 1260, Robert de Mulcaster (see Pedigree A), was appointed sheriff of Cumberland (ibid., 44 Hen. III, P.72), and, on September 21st, 1265, Robert de Mulcaster,"Knight" was appointed a commissioner for certain purposes (ibid., 49 Hen. III, P. 491).

Dominus Robert de Mulcaster was charged with taking a hind at Oulton, about Candlemas, 1271-2 (these Transactions, N.S., vii, p.11). In 2 Ed. I, 1273-4, he settled on his son Walter the manors of Bolton, Torpenhow, Blennerhasset and Bewaldeth (Nicolson and Burn, ii, 125).

The Surrey Pedigree gives the following version of the settlement:-

"This Sir Robert Mulcaster entailed the Mulcasters' lands to the heirs male, anno 2 Ed. I viz. Torpenhow, Ugmanby, Bolton, Blenerhasset, Boldicks Yeyton (Bolton Gate), Hermethauit (Armathwaite), Millam de Copland in Cumberland, Sir Roger Seyton then Chief justice of England."

Sir Roger Seyton was Chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1275.

On January 18th, 1278, there was a grant to Robert de Mulcaster and his heirs of a weekly market, on Tuesday, at his manor of Hayton and of a yearly fair there on the vigil, feast and morrow of St. Mary Magdalen; and of free warren in all his demesne lands of Torpenhow, Blenerhasset, Bewaldeth and Ermicetwayth

(Cal. Charter Rolls, 6 Ed. I, p. 206);

and, on August 4th, 1277, he had lately been appointed a justice. to deliver Carlisle gaol

(Cal. Close Rolls, 5 Ed. I, p. 400).

In 1278, there was a plea of Alan de Pennington versus Robert de Mulcaster, regarding the manor of Mulcaster, Alan alleged an agreement between himself and Robert, to the effect that Robert should deliver to Alan the manor of Giffen in Cunningham, Ayrshire, and also deliver to him a certain charter, by which an ancestor of Alan [Benedict de Pennington {In the translation here quoted, this name is inserted in square brackets.} whose heir he was, became enfeoffed. of the same manor, and that Alan should thereupon enfeoff Robert son of Robert or John son of Robert of ten marks of land in Giffen. Alan further alleged that, in consideration of the premises, he had granted all his lands in Copeland to Robert for life and Robert had agreed that Alan's son and heir, William, should marry Alice, daughter of Benedict and heir of Robert de Mulcaster (Cal. Doc. Scot., ii, P. 29; and see Wilson, St.Bees Register, p. 241 n.)

It appears by an inquisition made in March, 1281-2 that Robert de Mulcaster held five-sixths of the manor of Torpenhow by cornage of Baldwin de Wake (Cal. inq. p.m., 10 Ed. I, p. 258). His eldest son Walter, who succeeded to the settled estates, was described, at the Pleas, of Assize holden in 1278-9, as "Sir Walter de Mulcaster, of Arthuret " (Cal. Doc. Scot., ii, P. 34), and the said inquisition of 1281-2 shows that he held his land at North Easton, Arthuret and Stubhill, of Baldwin de Wake. In 1283, he was going beyond seas with Anthony Bek (Cal. Pat. Rolls, II Ed. I, p. 60). A roll of arms, compiled in Edward I's reign, states that his armorial bearings were: Barry of 12 argent and gules, on a bend azure three escallops or (Archaeologia, vol. xxxix, P. 437). He was knight of the shire in 1290. He died without issue and was succeeded by his brother William.

The said William de Mulcaster, " son of Robert," had made a claim, in 1285, at the Pleas of the forest, that his men of the hamlet of Uckmanby were liable to pay half a mark only for puture of the foresters and the claim was allowed in the following reign. Alan de Pennington, who hated William's father, on account of contentions between them," was the cause of the dispute (Cal. Close Rolls, 5 Ed. II, P. 385). He was sheriff in 1298.

On July 4th, 1299, Robert de Clifford wrote to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, desiring them to excuse Sir William de Mulcaster and Robert and Richard de Mulcaster from appearing in the Court of Exchequer according to their summons, by reason of their attendance upon him in defence of the Marches (Nicolson and Burn, i, viii). According to the Surrey Pedigree, Robert and Richard were sons of Sir William but that is impossible.

It appears, from an interesting inquisition made in 1300, concerning the lands of John de Wake deceased, that Sir William de Mulcaster held the manor of Torpenhow (except one-sixth part thereof; Robert de Mulcaster held the manor of Bryarhill (? Brackenhill) Richard de Mulcaster held a carucate of land at Easton of John de Easton, the immediate tenant thereof; and Lady Joan de Mulcaster* {*Johanna, who was the wife of.Walter de Mulcaster, is mentioned in 1292-3 (Cal. Genealogy., edit, Roberts, ii,477 } held three bovates of land at Arthuret they were all tenants by cornage (Cd. inq. p.m. 28 Ed. 1, P. 448). And it further appears, from another inquisition made in 1305 concerning the lands of Thomas de Lucy, that William de Mulcaster held the manor of Hayton in Aspatria, Blenerhasset and Uckmanby by cornage (ibid., 33 Ed. 1, p. 219).

On June 30th, 1300, the King committed to William de Mulcaster for life the, manor of Bolton, lately held by Geoffrey de Mowbray, a Scottish rebel deceased (Cat. Pat Rolls, 28 Ed. 1 p. 529). He was probably already in possession of the land as under-tenant, by virtue of the family settlement of 1273-4, I will interrupt, for a moment the biography of Sir William Mulcaster, in order to notice some records which mention collateral members of the family. On July 9th, 1302, the escheator was ordered to take into the King's hand the lands of a certain John de Mulcaster, deceased tenant in chief. (Cat. Fine Rolls, 30 Ed. I, p. 456). John. died seised of Threapland'. (held in chief, as of the Honour of Cockermouth) which he had purchased from"'Michael de Harcla and settled'.as is presently mentioned; also of Little Waverton (Lessonhall). which he had purchased from Robert de Lascelles an d held in.. simple of Sir John de Wigton, chief lord.

They found that John had an elder brother Benedict de Mulcaster, deceased, whose daughter Alice was born in Scotland some twenty years previously and had been resident there ever since. If living, she was heir, but if dead, her uncle William (John's brother), aged 40 and more, was heir (Cal. inq. p.m.., 30 Ed. I, p .74). On November 9th, 1304, it had been shown by inquisition that John de Mulcaster had settled Threapland upon himself and the heirs of his body, with successive remainders to his brother Thomas and the heirs of his body and to his brother William in fee simple. John and Thomas and both died without heir of their bodies, and the escheator was ordered to deliver Threapland to William (Cat. Fine Rolls, 32 Ed. I, p.501); and, on March 30th, 1304, the escheator was ordered to give Alice, widow of Thomas de Soules, seisin of the lands of which her uncle John de Mulcaster, whose, heir she .was, was seised in fee (Cat. Close Rolls, 32 Ed. I, p. 129).

In 1316, William de Mulcaster granted to Sir Henry de Malton all his lands in Threapland, with his capital messuage there, and an his land which John de Hayton held of him in Aldersceugh and a certain cultura of Und. in Blenerhasset called " le Fyche, " (Catalogue Ancient Deeds, vol. vi, p. 82); and, in the following year, Henry Malton was pardoned for acquiring the same without licence for an estate in fee simple (Cal. Pal. Rolls, II Ed. II, P. 3).

The following records may relate to Robert, son of Robert, mentioned in the Plea Roll Pedigree". In 1318, it was ordered that a new coroner should be elected in place of Robert de Mulcaster, as the King learnt that he, 'had been captured by the Scots (Cal. Close Rolls, 12 Ed. II, P. 43); and again in 1319, in place of Robert de Mulcaster incapacitated by blindness (ibid:; P. 72). Robert had purchased from his brother Walter the manor of Newlands in Bolton for an estate-in tail, but had sold it to John de Harcla -who sold it again to Andrew de Harcla, and he forfeited it for rebellion. The last-named Robert de Mulcaster died on All Souls, 1324 and his daughters Margaret and Agnes, and the son of his eldest daughter Joan claimed the manor by virtue of the entail (Rol. Parl., 18 Ed.II, p. 426); and his widow, Isabel, claimed dower out of the same (Cal. inq. p.m., 18 Ed. II, P. 403).

I will now return to the main stem of the family. Sir William de Mulcaster took a prominent part in the affairs of the county. He was sheriff in 1298 and 1304 and knight of the shire in 1309 and 1311. William de Mulcaster died in 1318-19, seised of Bewaldeth, held in chief as of the Honour of Cockermouth ; five-sixths of Torpenhow with a mill held of Thomas Wake; and the manors ,of Hayton, Blenerhasset and Uckmanby, held of Christiana, widow of Thomas de Lucy, who had an estate by dower therein, and his son Robert, aged 22 and more, was .his heir (Cal. inq.p.m. 12 Ed.II, p.88).

On March 20th, 1319, the escheator was ordered to take into the King's hand the lands of William de Mulcaster, deceased, tenant in chief (Cal. Fine Rolls, 12 Ed. II, P. 394) ; and, on April 24th, it was ordered that the same should be delivered to Robert de Mulcaster, son of William (ibid., p. 397). Robert de Mulcaster "knight," was knight of the shire in 1325. On February 16th 1327, there was an order to deliver to Ermeiarda, widow of John de Harcla, the manor of Whithall and some tenements in Uckmanby, as the King learnt that Robert de Mulcaster had enfeoffed John and Ermeiarda jointly of the same for their lives (Cal. Close Rolls, 1 Ed. III, P. 32).

In 1334, Robert, son of William de Mulcaster, was imprisoned in Carlisle Castle for trespass of vert and venison in Inglewood forest, and had letters to Ralph de Nevill, keeper of the forest, to bail him until the coming of the justices next in eyre of Pleas of the Forest (Cal. Close Rolls, 7 Ed. III, p. 165). According to a roll of arms made in Edward III's reign, Sir Robert de Mulcaster bore barry of 6 argent and gules, a baston (baton), azure (Foster, Some Feudal Coats).

In 1341-2, Sir Robert de Mulcaster, knight, made a settlement of his manors of Torpenhow, Hayton, Blenerhasset, Whithall, Bewaldeth and one-fourth part of Uckmanby, from which it appears that his wife was named Johanna, and his sons were named William, Robert, John, Walter, and Peter (these Transactions, N.S., vii, P. 237).

On July 1st, 1344, John de Orreton made a complaint that Robert de Mulcaster, knight, and others had assaulted him with drawn swords, as he sat with his fellows in the Exchequer of Carlisle (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 18 Ed. III, P. 387) and on October 1st, of the same year, Robert de Mulcaster, knight, was commissioned to levy the tenth and fifteenth and place the money in the cathedral church of Carlisle (Cal. Fine Rolls, 18 Ed. III, P. 393). He was commissioner for similar purposes on October Sth, 1346 (ibid., 20 Ed. III, P. 482), and must therefore have been still alive at the date of the transaction next mentioned.

By charter, dated at Hayton, January 16th., 1344-5, William, described as " son and heir of Robert de Mulcaster, lord of Torpenhow," confirmed the gift, by his. father to Euphemia, sister of Ralph de Nevill, of Raby, for life, of his Manor of Whithall and all other lands, which he held in the vills of Uckmanby and Bolton (Madox, Formulare, p. 62).

The compiler of the Surrey Pedigree alleges that the said William married Euphemia, sister of Sir Ralph Nevill, Earl of Westmorland (sic). The allegation is incredible 'because Ralph, created first Earl of Westmorland in 1397, died in 1425.*(*It is possible that she was sister of the earl's grandfather, Ralph, who died in 1367, and whose mother's name was Euphemia (see Cokayne's Peerage)

There was a complaint, in 1378, that William de Mulcaster, collector of the tenth and fifteenth, had not accounted for money received by him (Cal. Close Rolls, 1 Rich. II, p. 60).

William was dead in 1388-9, when it is recorded that he held no land in Cumberland, that is to say in chief (Cal. Esch., 12 Rich. II, p. 102). He was succeeded his son Robert de Mulcaster, chivaler, knight of the shire in 1388.

By charter, dated at Threapland, November 17th., 1392, Robert de Mulcaster, knight, lord of Hayton, granted to Clement de Skelton, knight, Thomas de Skelton and others, Threapland and his capital messuage there and all his land which John de Hayton formerly held in Aldersceugh, and a piece of land in Blenerhasset called " le Maston Fittes, in fee simple. Sir Robert's seal, affixed thereto, bore barry of 10, a bend dexter (Denton, Accompt, edit. Ferguson. p. 174). The premises had been conveyed, in 1316, by William de Mulcaster to Henry de Malton (see supra). The latter's daughter married. a Skelton (Nicolson and Burn, ii, 120).

In 1400, there was a grant by Sir Robert de Mulcaster, and others,. Of all his lands in Whitrigg, Belysis and Thornbank, the feoffment to be void on payment within 40 years Of 250 marks (Catalogue Ancient Deeds, vol. & vi, P. 47). By inquisition made in 1398-9, respecting lands of Matilda, wife of Henry de Percy, it was. found that Robert de Mulcaster., chivaler, held Hayton, Blenerhasset and Uckmanby, of the manor of Aspatria (Cal. Esch., 22 Rich. II p. 244).

By another deed, written in Norman French, and dated at Whitrigg, January 25th 1404-5, Sir John de Skelton, chivaler, Alice his wife, widow of Geoffrey Tilliol and Katherine, daughter and heiress of Geoffrey, acknowledged that they had received from Sir William de Clifford, for the benefit of Katherine, 250 marks, for which all the lands of Robert de Mulcaster at Whitrigg, Belysis, and Thornbank, in the vill of Torpenhow, had been mortgaged to and released to Robert de Mulcaster and William de Clifford all claim to the said lands (ibid., p.176). And on Midsummer Day, 1406, Sir William de Clifford, the new mortgagee, conveyed to Sir John de Skelton, in fee simple, the same lands, on the condition that, if the heirs of Sir Robert Mulcaster should before the end of 20 years, pay to Sir John de Skelton 255 marks they should enjoy the lands again (ibid., p. 176). The deed is witnessed by Richard de Skelton, sheriff.

On January 3rd, 1406-7, Sir Robert de Mulcaster granted to Sir Robert de Highmore, in fee simple, his vill of Bewaldeth (ibid. p. 179).

Robert Mulcaster, chivaler, was pardoned on November 11th, 1408, for all treasons (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 10 Hen. IV, p. 6).

The Surrey Pedigree states that "this Sir Robert Mulcaster became an unthrift, and, for very small sums of present money, sold his lands to his uncle, Ralph, Earl of Westmorland, who knowing the title to be weak by reason of the entail, did straightway alien the said lands by parcels, Robert presently after the sale dying." But the statement is not in harmony with the foregoing facts.

Sir Robert de Mulcaster left no male issue. His only daughter inherited Hayton and whatever else remained of the family property, and married Sir Peter de Tilliol, of Scaleby, knight of the shire. in 1413, who died in 1434-5, seised of the manors of Hayton and Torpenhow and a close called " Torpenhow park " held as of the manor of Papcastle (Cal. Esch., 13 Hen VI, P. 159).

The Surrey Pedigree exhibits the genealogy of a younger branch of the family, descended from a certain " Richard Mulcaster, Esquire." John, son of Richard ( Pedigree B) " married the heir of Artneth and Stafle, by whom we hold lands about Carlisle." There was a family of de Arthuret, one of whom, William, mayor of Carlisle, died in 1369 (Ferguson, Test. Karl., p. .89). Richard,* son of John," (*Richard de Mulcaster was M. P. for Carlisle in 1420, and again in 1425-6) married Alice daughter and sole heir of William son of John Hodwine and (? of), Keinton, Esquire" (perhaps Godwin, of Somerset), and their son, John Mulcaster, "entailed his lands about Carlisle to his heirs male, remainder to the heirs of Alan Blennerhasset; and the two Brackenhills to the heirs male, remainder to the heirs general."

Richard, son and heir of John, was the father of William Mulcaster " of Carlisle who may be identical with William Mulcaster, " Gent.," M.P. for that city in 1558 end 1562-3. His son, Richard Mulcaster, was born about 1530 and went to school at Eton. In 1548, he was elected a scholar of King's College, Cambridge, and took the degree of bachelor of arts in 1553-4. But, in 1555, he migrated to Oxford, where he was elected a student of Christ Church. He was incorporated a bachelor of arts and was licensed to proceed in that faculty in December., 1556 (Wood, Athena, edit. 1815, ii, 93). He spent some years in hard study at Oxford, and became eminent for his profound knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. On September 24th, 1561, he was appointed first head-master of the Merchant Taylors' school. In 1581, he published a quaint work on education., dedicated to the Queen and styled "Positions." It was re-edited, in 1888, by Mr. R.H. Quick, with an appended biography, compiled from particulars furnished by the Rev. Richard Mulcaster, of Anglesea House, Paignton. He took great interest in dramatic art and his pupils frequently performed masques before Queen Elizabeth and her court.

He resigned the headmastership of the Merchant Taylors' school on June 28th, 1586, was made vicar.of Cranbrook, Kent, in 1590, and prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral in 1594. On August 5th, 1596, being then, at least, in his 66th year, he was elected head-master of St. Paul's school. In 1598, the Queen presented him to the rectory of Stanford Rivers, Essex, but he does not appear to have resigned the headmastership of St.Paul's school until 1608. His wife, Katherine, died on August 6th, 1609, and was buried in the chancel of Stanford Rivers church. An epitaph described her as " wife to Richard Mulcaster, by ancient parentage and lineal descent an esquire born." He died on April 15th, 1611, and was. buried ' with his wife. but no memorial marks the spot. Bishop Andrews, of Winchester, a pupil and admirer of Richard Mulcaster, left a legacy to his son Peter (Dictionary of National Biography).

If the date of Richard the school-master's birth, 1530, is taken as the starting point and a reckoning, which allows a period of some 33 years for each generation, is, made, it is evident that " Richard Mulcaster Esquire, ancestor of the younger branch, was not the son of Sir William Mulcaster and that he did not, in fact, receive from Sir William a grant of " both the Brackenhills upon Leven " as the compiler of the Surrey Pedigree would have one believe. And it is stated elsewhere that the Mulcaster who married one of the three co-heiresses of Staffol lived during Henry V's reign, 1413-22 (Lysons, P. 128). The arms borne by the younger branch at the Surrey Visitation, 1623, were:-Barry of 10 argent and gules, a bend azure; and their crest was a lion azure with a coronet or, holding a sword erect argent, the blade embrued gules.

Thomas Mulcaster, whose name appears at the foot of Pedigree B, became rector of Charlwood, and at the. Heralds' Visitation of Surrey in 1662 quartered his family arms with those of " Artneth " or on a fesse sable three lozenges argent (Harleian Society's Publications, lx, p. 85). Edmondson assigns to " Artered "a similar coat-argent on a fesse sable three lozenges or (Heraldry, 1780, vol. i, p. 82). But I have said enough to show that the Surrey Pedigree of 1623 does not prove conclusively that the Mulcasters of Carlisle were. descended from Sir William de Mulcaster that one of them married the heiress of Arthuret and Staffield and that Brackenhill was their original domicile.

A tombstone in Irthington churchyard bore the following inscription:-

Underneath this stone doth lie Randal Mulcaster of ye Stone Walls, in Laversdale, near the Picts Wall, who departed this life the eleventh of June in the year of our Lord 1670.

(Nicolson, Miscellany Accounts., p.52). I am informed by one of our members that this Randal Mulcaster, traditionally known as "Randie with the long sword," fought for Charles 1 and was son of Richard, son of William.

History

Muncaster Castle is currently owned by the Pennington family, who have lived at Muncaster for at least 800 years. The Muncaster estate was granted to Alan de Penitone in 1208. The oldest parts of the castle include the Great Hall and the 14th century pele tower, a type of watch-tower fortification unique to the English-Scottish border region. It is suspected that the site of the castle lies on foundations dating to the Roman era, which, if they exist, may relate to the nearby Roman fort of Glannoventa at Ravenglass. The placename "Muncaster" contains the Latin word castra, meaning "encampment", or "fort".[1]

The castle was extended and enlarged on a number of occasions over the course of the centuries. Recent historical research (in the early 2000s) has uncovered records which indicate that in 1678 the castle had 14 chimneys; while a document relating to payment of Window Tax in 1746 recorded at that date it had 103 windows and 55 rooms and corridors.

However, by the time of the ownership of Sir Joseph Pennington in the 1770s, the castle had fallen into serious decay. His son, Sir John Pennington, arriving to live at the castle after his wedding in 1778, wrote with despair of how a part of the building collapsed even as he was inspecting it. The preservation of the castle to this day is due to the efforts of Sir John Pennington to rebuild and restore it; surviving records indicate that this cost him some six thousand pounds, an enormous sum of money for the late 18th century.

The castle contains a wealth of architectural features and artefacts from a wide span of English history, including a rare portrait of king Henry VI, an Elizabethan banqueting table, and also an impressive library containing approximately 6,000 books.

In August 2005, an archaeological investigation was conducted in the castle grounds, and an Architectural Heritage Report was produced.^[1] This investigation revealed that the castle's north tower was constructed in the 1830s. Previous literature on the north tower mistakenly attributed its construction to the architect Anthony Salvin, who was engaged to refurbish the castle by the fourth Lord Muncaster in 1862. The north tower complements the pele tower to provide a symmetry to the castle's appearance.

Since 2005, further architectural surveys have been conducted to examine the different phases of the building's construction. A second Architectural Heritage Report is expected from English Heritage in Spring 2010.

Muncaster Castle is one of the Britains most haunted buildings, scientists have been researching the ghosts of the Castle since 1992 and are still unable to explain some of the strange occurrences reported at the Castle.

Muncaster Castle is a privately owned Castle overlooking the Esk river, about a mile south of the west coast town of Ravenglass in Cumbria, England. The current owners the Pennington family have lived at Muncaster for at least 800 years. The Castle was built in the year 1258 on the foundations of a previous Roman settlement. Its original purpose was as a fortress to defend against the Scots, it was later used as an outpost protecting the trade routes from Carlisle. The oldest parts of the castle include the Great Hall and the 14th century Pele tower, a type of watch-tower fortification unique to the English-Scottish border region.

As with many historic buildings, it has been extended and refurbished with almost every era in history. The last of the building was done by the fourth Lord Muncaster in 1885 who commissioned the famous architect, Salvin. The castle contains a wealth of architectural features and artefact's from a wide span of English history, including a rare portrait of king Henry VI, an Elizabethan banqueting table, and also an impressive library containing approximately 6,000 books.

In recent years Muncaster Castle has been plagued by the paranormal, doors open and shut on their own accord and phantom footsteps echo through the corridors. Staff and visitors have often complained of their door handles being turned as if someone is attempting to enter the room, upon investigation there is no one there.

Muncaster's most famous ghost is that of Tom Fool (Tomas Skelton) he was the court Jester reputedly the last in England. Tom was by all accounts a dark character responsible for a number of deaths during his time at Muncaster. Tom would often be found under the chestnut tree, just outside the doors of the castle, and when travelers came by and asked the way to Ravenglass, if he didn't like the look of them, he would direct them down to the quick sands instead of over the ford. It is also said that under instruction from Sir William Pennington, Tom murdered a local carpenter decapitating him. The Carpenter had been having a secret affair with Sir Pennington's daughter Helwise, but Sir William found out and decided to put an end to it. Tom carried out the killing to keep favor with his master.

Tomas Skelton died around the year 1600, his portrait still hangs in the castle. One tourist to the castle had a frightening experience while standing looking at the portrait she said that she could plainly hear footsteps, on stone flooring, walking up behind her. When she turned to see who was approaching she realized that she was alone. The tourist was convinced the footsteps were on stone flooring, a claim which astonished staff and a local investigator who has been looking into the hauntings: When he interviewed her sometime after the experience, he pointed out that the stairs and corridor were, in fact, fully carpeted but she never realized this, even after the experience.

The present owners of Muncaster Castle, Phyllada and Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington, believe Tom still keeps a watchful eye on the castle, and occasionally gets up to more sinister mischief. The castle still has a special day called 'Tom Fool's day', which is a family fun day with various attractions.

The Hauntings & Ghosts.



Muncaster Castle has also acquired a reputation for being one of the most haunted houses in Britain. However, this has only been the case since the 1990s (Even though the castle has been reportedly haunted for centuries), partly due to the investigations of Jason Braithwaite of Birmingham University into whether the alleged hauntings are down to environmental factors such as magnetic disturbances, and partly due to the drastic rebranding of the Muncaster Castle estates to appeal to tourists for more than merely its acclaimed gardens at the turn into the 21st Century. This was in order to ensure that it remained in Pennington hands (the financial situation was acute enough at one stage for them to admit in a BBC documentary called Castle Ghosts of the British Isles, that the estate was in danger of being sold as they could not afford much needed repairs to the roof).
Prior to the 21st Century, most ghost books that bothered to list Muncaster mentioned only two ghosts, that of Henry VI (who was sheltered at Muncaster after his defeat at the battle of Hexham) and the head carrying ghost of an apprentice carpenter who was decapitated whilst sleeping in the old stable block by jester Thomas Skelton (Tom The Fool) at the orders of Sir Ferdinand Pennington because of his love affair with his daughter Helwise.
However, visitors to the castle have long been informed by guides that as well as the above, the ghost of Skelton and the vengeful ghost in white of Mary Bragg - a foul-mouthed local girl who was murdered by being hanged from the Main Gate by drunken youths in the 19th Century after they'd kidnapped her for a joke: those responsible were never brought to justice. There were even tales that a lion shot by the last Lord Muncaster in Kenya, and whose skull is kept in the castle, was sometimes heard prowling (& gently growling) around at nightfall.
Guests may book a tour of the castle and an all-night vigil in a haunted bedroom known as the Tapestry Room, where guest reports of paranormal phenomena include: hearing footsteps, seeing the door open of its own accord, hearing a crying child (allegedly Margaret Susan Pennington, who died of screaming fits in the 19th Century) and/or a singing woman, having their digital cameras turn off and on inexplicably, feeling themselves patted, experiencing changes of room temperature, chest pains, and even being inexplicably tossed out of the bed.
Jason Braithwaite, a cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist from the University of Birmingham has been studying the phenomena at the castle for some 15 years, and has suggested one possible explanation as being "strange and anomalous magnetic fields" in the areas of the hauntings, which might affect certain people with a tendency towards "more erratic" brain function, such as those who suffer from migraine headaches or epilepsy, for example.
Muncaster Castle estate in the early 20th century was around 23,000 acres (93 km²) in size. Today, the castle is surrounded by 77 acres (310,000 m²) of woodland gardens in a park of some 1,800 acres (7.3 km²). The gardens contain many rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas, and the castle's Plant Centre offers the largest collection of rhododendrons in the north of England.
The castle is not only the residence of the current owners, Peter Frost Pennington & family, but in common with many such ancient estates in the British Isles it operates as a function centre and a site where civil weddings may be held, has bookable accommodation for 24 guests, and is also the location of the headquarters of the World Owl Trust, a registered UK charity dedicated to the preservation of owls and their habitats.
The estate is situated in sparsely populated and scenic countryside, between the Irish Sea and Hardknott Pass, near England's tallest mountain, Scafell Pike.

 The Luck of Muncaster

After the battle of Towton in 1461, tradition has it,Henry VI fled to Muncaster Castle where Sir John Pennington sheltered him. Henry gave Sir John a glass drinking bowl with a prayer that they might prosper for as long as the glass remained unbroken. The glass is known as 'The Luck of Muncaster' and remains unbroken to this day.^[2]

Tom the Fool

Tom the Fool (real name Tom Skelton) was a jester in the castle at the end of the 16th Century - reputedly the last court jester in English history (cf. Berkeley Castle). A friend of William Shakespeare, he was by all accounts a dark character responsible for a number of deaths during his time at Muncaster, not merely the murder of the carpenter at Sir Ferdinand Pennington's orders. One of his ideas of a "joke" was directing anyone asking him for directions to Ravenglass towards the hidden quicksand and bog marsh by the River Esk rather than the ford - some realised in time, many did not and were never seen again.
Present owners of Muncaster, Phyllida and Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington, believe Tom still keeps a watchful eye on the castle, and occasionally gets up to more sinister mischief. Most of the ghostly goings on are attributed to this fiendish fool, but with several other ghosts at Muncaster any of them could be responsible.
His portrait still hangs in the Castle, which contains his Will. Skelton died around 1600, according to legend in the very marshes where he'd sent so many to their deaths when trying to return to the castle whilst drunk.
The castle still has a special day called 'Tom Fool's day', which is a family fun day with various attractions.

Shaun Underwood wishes to thank to staff at WIKIPEDIA for the help with the information on this page.With out there help this would not have been posible.

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