Approximate Population: 71,773

Because Carlisle was sometimes the last town in England before Scotland, and sometimes the last town in Scotland before England, in the days when the two countries were separate kingdoms, it developed importance as a military stronghold, and Carlisle Castle is still relatively intact. Built in 1092 by William Rufus, and having once served as a prison for Mary, Queen of Scots.

In December 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stuart captured Carlisle after the Siege of Carlisle. During the retreat of Charles Edward Stuart’s Jacobites in 1746 he ordered that the Manchester Regiment be left to garrison Carlisle so that he “continued to hold at least one town in England”. The Hanoverian army under Cumberland then besieged and took Carlisle.

The Tullie House Museum, an award-winning museum, tells the story of the Border country, including much material on Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman defensive structure the course of which runs through the Stanwix area of Carlisle, and many items of Roman architecture. It also features an exhibit explaining the history of the Border Reivers.

Tullie House used to house an excellent lending and reference library, but that has now been placed on the upper level of The Lanes. (The Lanes are Carlisle’s main shopping area in the city centre). Carlisle Cathedral has the largest east window of any cathedral in Europe, but the western end of the cathedral was demolished by Oliver Cromwell to shore up the castle. Carlisle also has a first-class racetrack, located to the south of the city centre.

Chartered Surveyors Carlisle Cumbria

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