Guidebook: Brough Castle & Brougham Castle

In a peaceful river valley and on an exposed bluff below the Pennines, stand the medieval castles of Brougham and Brough. Their strategic positions had previously been recognised by the Romans, who built forts here hundreds of years earlier.  Brough was built in the 12th century, replacing a Norman castle of about 1100, and Brougham was built early in the 13th century. From this time on, for most of the next 600 years, the castles were held by the same two powerful families: first by the Vieuxponts and then, for over four centuries, by the Cliffords. To both Vieuxponts and Cliffords the castles served as much as centres of their regional power as strongholds designed to resist their enemies, whether these were Scots or rival members of the English nobility. In 1300 Edward I stayed at both castles, and in 1617 James I held court at Brougham. Both castles enjoyed a last lease of life, thanks to the most famous of all the Cliffords, Anne, who died at Brougham in 1676. Not long afterwards the castles fell into ruin and subsequently came into the care of the Ministry of Works, forerunner of English Heritage. Published: February 2024 Paperback 190 x 220mm 56 pages