Castle Howe

Castle Howe is a Norman castle ruin in Kendal consisting of a circular mound standing about 11 meters high with a base roughly 48 meters across. Curved earthwork remains along the ridge show the outline of what was once a fortified settlement.

Built around 1087 by Norman nobleman Ivo Taillebois, the site served as an early stronghold in the region. It was abandoned by the 12th century and never reoccupied afterward.

The castle shaped how Kendal grew, with the town developing around this central stronghold that represented Norman control. You can still see how the old fortification influenced where people built their homes and streets.

The mound is open to visitors year-round and can be climbed for views of the surrounding area. Information boards at the base explain what you are looking at and provide historical context.

The earthworks have looked the same since cartographer John Speed drew them in 1611, preserving what the Norman fortification originally looked like. This makes them a valuable record of how such structures appeared centuries ago.

Location: Kendal

GPS coordinates: 54.32380,-2.75040

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:24