It was built in 1095 on a Roman fort site but after being held by the Scots
from 1136 to 1157 it was destroyed by them in 1174. Rebuilt at the end of the
12th century it was used until it was badly damaged in a fire in the 16th century. Then it was
restored in 1660 by Lady Clifford but after her death some of its stone was
used to repair one of the other family castles, Appleby, at the end of the
17th century. In 1763 the castle was partly demolished.