Kendal Castle

Just east of the town of Kendal in Cumbria (where the Lake District is located) are the ruins of the Kendal Castle. We see so many castles with lush grass growing inside, it is sometimes hard to image how the working castle actually looked.

As I often do, here's is what Wikipedia description of the place.

Kendal Castle is a medieval fortification to the east of the town of Kendal, Cumbria, in northern England. The castle, which is atop a glacial drumlin, was built in the 13th century^[1] as the Caput baroniae for the Barony of Kendal. By the 15th century, the Parr family owned the castle.

The castle was built in the late 12th century as the home of the Lancaster family who were Barons of Kendal. The best-known family associated with the castle was the Parr family; including Queen Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII of England. Her family had lived at Kendal since her ancestor Sir William Parr married the heiress of Kendal, Elizabeth Ros, during the reign of Edward III of England. By the time Catherine Parr was born, the family had long deserted the castle which was already falling into disrepair. Catherine's father preferred to live in the centre of court in London. Sir Thomas's father seems to be the last of the Parrs to have lived at Kendal Castle.^[2] Queen Catherine Parr was once thought to have been born at the castle; however, modern research has shown that it was in great disrepair by the 16th century and she was most likely born in Blackfriars, London.^[3][4]

The site, which has been a ruin since Tudor times, is accessible to the public and managed by the South Lakeland District Council.^[5]

Now you do not need to visit the Wikipedia page because, except for the references (you do read these right?), this is all it has to say on the subject.

I can tell you that, as you seen in the image above, the remains clearly show there there were at least two floors. In the upper part you see was the great hall where folks wined and dined and the lord held court.

In the lower portion was the storerooms and, I think, the kitchens.

It is certainly not the most impressive castle ruin we've seen but it is worth a short visit if you are in the area. 

The pathway connecting the hilltop to the street where we parked (no dedicated parking lot) runs around the remains of the moat that once surrounded it.