Featured image of Lowther Castle

The History of Lowther Castle

LocationLowther, Cumbria, England (Google Map)
Open for VisitorsYes
Owned byPrivate Owner
Official WebsiteLowther Castle and Gardens
Rooms AvailableNo

Lowther Castle land is more than 1000 years old and was bought by Dolfin De Lowther. It is one of the oldest properties in England that stayed with the same family. It belonged to the Lowther family and is now open to the public. Surrounded by beautiful woodland and ancient garden, this ruined castle can be a perfect place to enjoy the peacefulness and perfection of nature.

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History

The Lowther family has occupied the Lowther Castle site since 1150. Since the family got this land, they had constructed many buildings on the site, and the last one to stay there was the castle itself. The castle was built in 1806. William, 1st Earl of Lonsdale, commissioned it, and architect Robert Smirke designed it.

In the beginning, the Lowther Castle was considered to boast a room for each day of the year. The castle was filled with art collections, and people from around the world visited it to explore this landmark of the North. However, even being one of England’s most beautiful and artistic buildings, it got abandoned 130 years after it was built. The reason behind it was Yellow Earl, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, spent a huge amount of his fortune on maintaining it. Later, during wartime, he needed funds for weapons. He decided to leave the castle and invest the money he would put in the castle’s maintenance in the wartime requisition.

In 1957, all the wartime requisition and crippling death duties finally led to the sealing of the castle. Even the chimney pot, door handles, fireplaces, and more were sold to get funds. At last, the Lowther castle becomes empty, and James Lonsdale, the 7th Earl, removes the castle roof.

In 2011, finally, the Lowther family decided to restore the castle. They invested approximately 9 million pounds in its restoration and opened the castle and garden for visitors. It was the first time since 1938 that Lowther castle got its perfect look. Ever since the Lowther family has been managing the property, visitors can come and explore it.

Architecture

Lowther Castle Architecture
Lowther Castle”, by Toplist, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Lowther Castle is a beautiful castle with gardens on the western and eastern sides and a beautiful terrace designed with rocks and boulders. It is a shell-like castle with eye-catching turrets and crenellations. Overall, it has a medieval and historic feel that makes the castle’s exterior elaborating and imposing. Also, the overall design of the castle gives the feel of a Hollywood film set.

The castle’s structure is historic with a modern feel. It has a stable courtyard, café, and shop that offer proper amenities to the visitors. Even the Ancient woodlands house located in Lowther Castle garden is considered one of the UK’s largest adventure playgrounds.

The gardens of the castle have an English feel. Every season, the plants are changed to make the garden bloom. Even Lowther Castle has its Rock Garden, where you will find the central pond, stone seats, and lush green atmosphere. A short distance away from the Rock Garden, you will notice the Escarpment walk with a turf trail and a beautiful Lowther Valley view. It will also offer the perfect view of the Lake District. If you like to visit castles with remarkable stories and dramatic landscapes, this castle is a must-visit for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns Lowther Castle?

John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale, owns Lowther Castle. The Lowthers family founded the castle in the year 1150, and ever since, they have been the owner and manager of the castle land and garden.

Why was Lowther Castle demolished?

The Yellow Earl, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, spent a massive amount of his fortune to overcome the wartime. And managing the castle was a luxury for them. Even wartime required the fortune to be used in the right place. The castle was demolished due to this reason. The Lowther Castle remained an empty shell with just outer walls for over half a century, and its garden lost its beauty. In 2011, the castle reopened for the first time after 1938.

Have you visited this castle before? If yes, why not share some beautiful pictures with us!
You can email us your pictures of the castle at castrumtocastle@gmail.com. Please use the name of the castle in the subject line.
Also, don’t forget to mention your name and social media profile link if you want the credits!

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He is a versatile E-Learning Support Officer and former Academic Officer at the University of York, United Kingdom. Not just an expert in education and technology, Debayan also has a deep love for castles and mountains. With a passion for travel, having explored 168+ cities worldwide, and a keen eye for photography, He brings a unique blend of experiences to the table. Specializing in E-learning content, IT support, AR development, and software engineering, Debayan has made a significant impact, educating over 200,000 students on Udemy.

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