Lowther Castle

History

The Lowther family has held the estate since medieval times. An earlier house on the site was completed in 1685 for John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale. The present castle was designed by Robert Smirke as his first major commission, replacing the older Lowther Hall with a much grander sham castle. By the mid-20th century the family could no longer maintain the building, and the roof and interior fittings were removed, leaving the shell that survives today.

Architecture

The castle is built as a sham castle in Gothic and Tudor styles, with a nine-bay central block, angle turrets and a large central tower linked by low wings to corner pavilions. A battlemented forecourt wall with turrets and a gatehouse stands in front of the main building. The structure is grade II* listed.

Worth knowing

Robert Smirke went on to design the British Museum. Lowther Castle was his first major architectural commission, making it an early proving ground for one of Britain's most influential nineteenth-century architects.

Gardens & grounds

The grounds around the ruin have been restored in recent decades and now form a significant part of the visitor experience, with formal areas set against the roofless castle as a backdrop.