Curious About Castles: Muncaster Castle

Curious About Castles - Muncaster

Located in the Western Lake District of Cumbria, Muncaster Castle occupies a picturesque position approximately one mile east of the coastal town of Ravenglass. Perched on a raised elevation, the castle boasts captivating views of the River Esk and is encompassed by breathtaking plantations. It is further complemented by the awe-inspiring mountain vistas on either side, making it a truly remarkable landmark.

Today, Muncaster Castle serves as a vibrant living museum that exhibits the rich heritage of the Pennington family. Over the course of centuries, the family has amassed a remarkable collection of manuscripts, artwork, and memorabilia, some of which are publicly showcased. Visitors can, nay, must embark on guided tours to dive deeper into the captivating histories of both the Castle and its meticulously maintained Gardens, they hold.

Notably, I had a difficult time uncovering information to make a worthy timeline devoid of significant gaps, as it seems much of the history is kept under lock and key, carefully and craftily distributed to the public. One could argue this is because history is used as a draw to bring in museum profits, which then go toward maintaining the historic site. And to an extent, that is true. Yet, I suspect there’s an active cover-up in play.

Muncaster Owners & Occupants

Pennington Family of Muncaster Castle — The Pennington Family, Owners of Muncaster Castle (Far left, Ewan, latest Heir; prefers the term "custodian")

Historically documented occupants:

1208: Alan de Pennington, of Pennington Hall

1242: Thomas de Pennington / William Pennington (Mulcaster?)

1278: Sir Alan de Pennington

1301-1323: William de Pennington

1323-1334: John Pennington

1397-1399: Elizabeth, widow of William Pennington

1399-1415: Sir Alan Pennington

1415: John Pennington

1452-1504: John Pennington (grandson of above)

1522: Sir William Pennington (son of John, cousin of John above)

1532: Frances Pennington, widow of Sir William

15??-1573: William Pennington (son of William and Frances)

c. 1589-1604: Joseph Pennington (Esq.)

Pennington Baronets and Barons of Muncaster:

Sir William Pennington, 1st Baronet (1655–1730)

Sir Joseph Pennington, 2nd Baronet (1677–1744)

Sir John Pennington, 3rd Baronet (c. 1710–1768)

Sir Joseph Pennington, 4th Baronet (1718–1793)

John Pennington, 1st Baron Muncaster, 5th Baronet (c. 1740–1813)

Lowther Pennington, 2nd Baron Muncaster (1745–1818)

Lowther Augustus John Pennington, 3rd Baron Muncaster (1802–1838)

Gamel Augustus Pennington, 4th Baron Muncaster (1831–1862)

Josslyn Francis Pennington, 5th Baron Muncaster (1834–1917)

Recent Occupants:

1917–c.1985: Unoccupied full time

1985–2011: Patrick and Phyllida Gordon-Duff-Pennington and children.

1985–today: Peter and Iona Frost-Pennington (great-granddaughter of the first cousin and heir to the last Lord Muncaster), with elder son and heir (custodian) Ewan, operations director of Muncaster.

History of Muncaster Castle

The history of Muncaster Castle, or Mulcaster as it was originally known, is deeply intertwined with the ancestral lineage of the Pennington Family, spanning over 800 years. For over four centuries, the prosperous estate was held by the Pennington Knights, and to this day, it remains in the possession of descendants of the last Lord Muncaster.

For me, the most intriguing aspect of Muncaster was not so much the castle itself but its owners.

1066 (?) – 12th Century (Castle and Lord lineage origins)

The Pennington Family

The muddled and curious origins of Muncaster Castle go back to Gamel de Pennington, a historical figure believed to be the ancestor of all the Penningtons living today. The Doomsday Book supposedly mentions four men named “Gamal” who held lands, and it is said that one of them moved to the parish of Pennington after his marriage and adopted the surname "Pennington."

While the name of Gamel's wife is unconfirmed, historians suggest that she may have been a daughter of the House of Percy, as their family coats of arms bore a striking resemblance. In fact, in some family trees, Gamel and his descendants are even referred to as "Pennington de Percy." If true, this helps explain the lofty social status of the Pennington name seen in the centuries to come.

The Muncaster (Moelcastre) Estate

The name "Pennington" is also mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The estate, comprising around 120 acres of land, was part of the Manor of Hougun, which was held by Earl Tostig and likely existed for several centuries.

In 1127, Pennington became part of the grant given to Furness Abbey by the monks for the foundation of their abbey. The family came to hold the land by knight's service and rent, eventually adopting the name of the manor.

Gamel, at some point, acquired or owned property near Eskmeal, an ancient Roman camp located near present-day Ravenglass, and moved his family there.

The original name of the property was Moelcastre, Mulcaster, or Mulcastre, derived from the Celtic words "moel/mule/meal," meaning "hill," and "caster/castre," meaning "fortification."

During this time, there was no known manor house, but it is believed that the family had a manor house in Beckside, as Gamel's name appears on the ancient tympanum of Beckside.

Gamel is also mentioned as having granted the church of Mulcaster to Conishead Priory around 1160.

The Pennington-Muncaster Family Relation

Gamel and his wife had at least two sons, Benedict and Meldred (with some sources mentioning a possible third son, Ranulph). As the eldest male, Benedict became the heir to Mulcaster after Gamel's passing.

The descendants of Sir Benedict de Penington, Knight, also raise questions. Some sources state that he and his wife, Agnes, had two sons, Alan and Alexander, while others mention a third son named David.

Legend has it that the Mulcaster surname was established by David, who became known as David de Mulcaster and passed the name on to his children. By the early 1200s, David also owned significant property in the area, adding weight to a probable connection between him and Benedict.

(It is worth noting that current records of both the Mulcaster and Muncaster genealogical lines include members of the Pennington family, and in 2015, a DNA link was reportedly discovered connecting these two families.)

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the surname origin and the relationship between the Mulcasters and Penningtons, it is evident that the two families shared both close ties and occasional conflicts. Both families served as knights, and historical records depict commercial activities and tensions between them throughout subsequent decades. Furthermore, several Lords Mulcaster and Pennington held the position of sheriff at various periods.

1202

Sir Alan de Penington, I, Knight, the son of Benedict, granted around 30 acres of land in Pennington to Hugh, son of Edward.

1208 (Earliest known evidence of Pennington ownership)

The earliest recorded evidence of the Pennington family's ownership of the castle dates back to 1208. It states that "Alan de Penintone" (grandson of Benedict) was granted the lands.

Interestingly, the same year marked the passing of his father, Sir Alan de Penington, I, Knight. It is noted that "he received by fine at Carlisle the tenement of Mulcaster from Richard de Lucy (the Lord Paramount to Muncaster township) for 1/12 knight's fee and his foreign service."

This aligns with other records indicating that Richard de Lucy received a charter from King John of England, granting him the right to establish a market and fair at Ravenglass (which fell within the boundaries of Mulcaster township). Later that year, Richard de Lucy confirmed Alan Pennington, as mense lord, along with his tenants, granting them "all the land and fee of Ravenglass, to hold of him and his heirs, with estovers to make fish garths in the river Esk."

1242 (Pennington-Mulcaster estate deal)

Alan died without male heirs, and his only daughter, Alice, married the Baron of Kinderton, assuming the surname de Venables and relocating to Cheshire. As a result, Mulcaster should have passed to Alan's brother, Thomas de Pennington, which many records suggest was the case.

However, a famous account claims that William Pennington (noted as the grandson of Benedict) acquired the castle and established his family seat at Muncaster during this period. William is also credited with constructing the original hall.

While early Pennington genealogy records are incomplete, records only grow in both quantity and detail post-Doomsday Book, and no direct descendant named "William" is found in Gamel's lineage until 1275. This William is listed as the grandson of Thomas, the brother of Alan de Pennington of Pennington Hall, making him the great-great-grandson of Benedict.

There is an earlier William, who was the grandson of Alan and great-grandson of Benedict, but he became the Baron of Kinderton and inherited that title.

The disparity in dates led some historians to propose that the William Pennington said to have inherited Mulcaster at this time was actually a direct descendant of David de Mulcaster.

Supportive evidence for this theory can be found in publications from the Cumberland and Westmoreland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, which mention the addition of 14,000 acres to the mountain territory of Furness Abbey, encompassing Upper Eskdale. Part of this land became Pennington property through a deal with David de Mulcaster (likely the second David, grandson of the first), who had received property from the abbey.

1248-1269

Thomas de Pennington passed away in 1248, leaving the castle to his son and heir, Alan II. Agnes, Thomas's widow, reached an agreement with the Abbot of Furness regarding the guardianship of the heir, Alan. Subsequently, Agnes married Thomas de Greystoke.

Thomas and Agnes de Pennington also owned land in Birtwisle in Hapton, which Alan inherited.

In 1250, there was a dispute over the custody of Alan, contested between Thomas de Multon and John de Lungvilers, along with Agnes and John's daughter.

By 1269, it seems that Alan had been legally recognized as the rightful heir and had taken possession of the land. He is mentioned as a defendant in a local legal matter.

1278 (Pennington/Mulcaster estate and marriage agreements)

In 1278, an intriguing legal dispute unfolded involving Sir Alan de Pennington, likely Alan II, son of Thomas, and Sir Robert de Mulcaster. Sir Alan claimed that he had entered into a binding agreement with Sir Robert, wherein Sir Robert was obligated to transfer the esteemed manor at Giffen to Sir Alan. This transfer, accompanied by a significant charter from Alan's ancestor Benedict de Pennington, would establish Alan's rightful ownership of the property.

In return, Sir Alan pledged to enfeoff one of Sir Robert's sons with ten marks of land in Giffen, a substantial value amounting to approximately 65 pounds. Furthermore, Alan promised to grant all of his lands in Copeland to Robert for the duration of his lifetime.

Notably, the agreement also stipulated a matrimonial union between Alan's son and heir, William, and Alice, the daughter of Benedict Mulcaster, likely Robert's granddaughter. This further emphasized the intricate and complex dynamics between the Pennington and Mulcaster families.

1292 (Disputes with the Abbot of Furness and the Prior of Conishead)

Moving forward to the year 1292, a fresh wave of conflicts emerged, this time involving Alan de Pennington, the Abbot of Furness, and the Prior of Conishead.

The Abbot, acting in his authoritative capacity as the head of the wapentake, which served as an administrative division in Furness, proceeded to seize property at Pennington. This action was taken as a form of distraint, intended to secure payment for a servant and a witness man. Alan vehemently contested the legality of this seizure, but unfortunately, he was non-suited, meaning his legal arguments did not succeed.

Indeed, these disputes and the resulting legal outcomes add another layer of intrigue to the ongoing narrative surrounding the Pennington family and their interactions with the Abbot of Furness and the Prior of Conishead.

1301

William de Pennington, the son of Alan, had inherited the castle by this time, as he was granted free warren for his lands in Pennington.

1314 - 1322 (Pele Tower constructed)

While William de Pennington was away serving the king in Scotland, the Abbot of Furness entered William’s land and seized a number of his cattle at the Moor in Pennington as distraint (seizure of property), claiming that the required reaping in autumn and plowing throughout the year had not been done.

The following year, William de Pennington lodged a complaint, and by 1317, a dispute arose between William de Pennington and the Abbot of Furness regarding the services owed from the manor.

In 1318, an agreement was made for the marriage of William's daughter, Maud, to John, the son of Richard de Hudleston. Additionally, an agreement was reached between William and the abbot regarding the reaping and plowing dispute. However, a disagreement with the tenants about an enclosure arose.

Likely following the Siege of Carlisle (1315), due to Scottish raids into Cumbria led by Robert Bruce in 1316 and 1322, William de Pennington built the four-story Pele Tower around this time meant to be used as a refuge in times of invasion. He used the stone remains of the Roman fortification on the site.

Notably, it was at this time a coin from the era of Emperor Theodosius (379 - 395 AD) was found, as well as a Victor ring, which are prized possessions of the Penningtons remaining at Muncaster Castle still today.

1323 - 1328

William de Pennington passed away, leaving his son John as a minor.

Five years later, the dispute regarding the plowing and reaping was formally resolved. John, son of William de Pennington, acknowledged that he held the manor from the abbot and convent, performing the service of one-tenth of a knight's fee. He also had to attend the abbot's court at Dalton every three weeks and pay an annual rent of 30s.

The abbot had claimed that the lord of the manor was obligated to provide a person to reap the abbot's corn at Lindal and a plow to cultivate the land at Lindal. After the abbot granted the charter, he seized four of John de Pennington's horses at Quinfell, alleging that the required services were in arrears. As a result, John brought his case to court, likely as a friendly action to have the charter and terms of tenure officially recorded.

1334 (Mulcaster custodians appointed)

John de Pennington died, leaving behind his son William, who was underage at the time. Oliver de Wells and the Abbot of Furness became custodians of different parts of the Lancashire lands belonging to John's heir. Joan, the widow of John de Pennington, was also asserting her right to dower.

c. 1340 - 1380 (??)

The records of Mulcaster castle and the Penningtons are once again spotty at this time, with a handful of notable recordings, yet it leaves the genealogy in question again.

In 1346, it was discovered that the abbot had arranged a marriage between William and the daughter and heir of William de Threlkeld. However, William later married the daughter of William de Legh without the abbot's consent, as indicated by William's seal being appended.

William, son of Roger de Pennington, is said to have died in 1365, and the abbot and other executors of his will were involved in a legal dispute at that time. Alan was the son and heir of another William, who appointed Thomas de Bardsey and others as trustees.

William also died in 1376, leaving behind underaged heirs were. The Abbot of Furness sought wardship (legal guardianship) against Christopher de Broughton.

There is some confusion regarding which William is being referred to, as there were multiple individuals with that name.

1397 - 1399

The manors of Pennington and Muncaster were granted to Elizabeth, the widow of William de Pennington, for her lifetime. After her death, they were to pass to Alan de Pennington. In 1399, additional lands were granted to Sir Alan.

1415

Sir Alan Pennington who died while he held the manor of the Abbot of Furness and paid rent. His son John, who was twenty-two years old, inherited the estate.

1452

A yearly rent was settled upon John Pennington's son, also named John Pennington, and his wife Isabel, who was the daughter of John Broughton.

c. 1461 - 1464 (King Henry VI found near the castle / “The Luck of Muncaster”)

According to Pennington family folklore, King Henry VI had evaded capture during the War of the Roses* and, after his request for shelter was refused at nearby Irton Hall, fled over the fell to Muncaster, where Sir John Pennington is said to have found the king wandering, about a mile from the castle. John and his wife cared for Henry, providing food and shelter for nine days.

As the story goes, the King was said to present Sir John with an ornate Venetian glass drinking bowl with a prayer for their prosperity, declaring that so long as the bowl remained intact, the Pennington family would remain at Muncaster.

The bowl has since been dubbed the “Luck of Muncaster” and stays hidden at the Castle with few knowing its whereabouts to this day. Additionally, a painting of King Henry kneeling before an altar with the bowl in his right hand hangs in the bedroom he used at Muncaster.

*Some sources note this happening in 1461 following the Battle of Towton, while others note it occurring in 1464 following the Battle of Hexham.

1482

An agreement was made between the parents for the marriage of Sir John Pennington's son, John, and Mary, the daughter of Sir John Hudleston. It was agreed that Sir John would not sell any of the lands inherited from his grandfather.

(Sir John Pennington was also knighted in Scotland during the expedition of 1482.)

c. 1485 - 1600 (Fortification remodeled and expanded to a castle)

Muncaster manor was remodeled for comfort, as the Tudor period dispels the need for fortification.

Several generations of Penningtons expand on the hall and tower, eventually developing it into a castle.

1504 -1573 (Muncaster passed down)

Sir John Pennington, the grandson of the previously mentioned individual, made a settlement of the manor. According to his will in 1505, he left a third part of his lands in Lancashire, Cumberland, and Westmorland to his wife, Dame Joan Ogle, with the remainder going to his sons John (the heir), Alan, and William. If they had no heirs, the lands would pass to the right heirs of his grandfather, John Pennington.

The manor later passed to a cousin named John Pennington. His son, Sir William, inherited the manor at a young age after his father died in 1522.

Sir William died in 1532, leaving his underage son, William, as the heir. Frances Pennington, widow of Sir William, wrote to the Abbot of Furness about her son's marriage.

In 1573, William Pennington died while in possession of the manor. He had married Bridget, the widow of Hugh Askew, and in 1572, settled the manor of Pennington on their son Joseph, who was eight years old at the time. Joseph Pennington is mentioned in various legal documents and fines related to the manor.

1577 (Castle name changed)

A Cumberland church register notes the first known instance of Mulcaster being called Muncaster. Historians suggest this was a deliberate corruption made to purge the land of the Mulcaster name.

1589 and 1604

Fines concerning the manor were recorded, with Bridget Pennington, widow, Joseph Pennington (Esq.), John, and William Pennington identified as deforciants.

1676 (First Baronet of Muncaster created, Manor customs established)

William Pennington (son of Joseph) acquired the manor of Farington in Leyland, and his grandson, William, was made a baronet, creating the first Baronet of Muncaster.

The Chancery issued a decree confirming the customs of the Pennington manor established by Joseph Pennington and his tenants. The customs include heriots, fines, quit rents, and requirements for tree planting.

1783 (Castle rebuilt, Chapels Tower erected, first Baron Muncaster created)

The Penningtons married well throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, and a vacancy in the Irish Peerage at this time led to John Pennington, the fifth Baronet of Muncaster, being created first Baron Muncaster.

John, Lord Muncaster, carried out extensive

renovations both inside the Castle and out, transforming the Gothic fortress into a place in which the family could entertain in style. He founded the octagonal library and added sash windows throughout the castle.

Lord Muncaster also planted many large hardwood trees and had an orangery constructed. He also is credited with raising the tower a mile Northeast of the Castle known as Chapels to commemorate where his ancestors had found Henry VI.

1826 - 1853 (Muncaster mortgaged)

The Pennington family records show numerous proposals for loans on the Muncaster estate in 1826. The proposed total mortgage requested was at least £185,000, equivalent to roughly £28,173,582 ($35,070,475) today.

The mortgage is noted as paid off in 1853.

1862 - 1866 (Castle refurbished)

Famous Victorian architect Anthony Salvin was hired to refurbish Muncaster Castle.

1917 - 1958 (Last Lord Muncaster Died, Extensive garden work, Queen Mary visit)

The fifth Lord Muncaster, Gamel Pennington, died without an heir, reverting the estate to the nearest relation on his mother’s side, Sir John Frecheville Ramsden, 6th Baronet, on condition his second son, Geoffrey, changed his name to Pennington. (The seventh Baronet assumed the surname by 1925 but resumed use of his original surname in 1958, going by Pennington-Ramsden.)

Sir John discussed proposed modifications to the Castle, yet no changes were made. He brought many of the Ramsden family possessions to Muncaster, including family portraits, though he and his family did not reside at the castle but a few months out of the year.

At this time, the estate still spanned 23,000 acres, and Sir John sponsored numerous expeditions by plant hunters, most notably George Forrest, and Frank Kingdon-Ward. Some of their discoveries remain in the gardens today, many endangered in their original habitats, and are propagated to ensure their legacy.

Sir John carried out many extensive works in the gardens, including planting Bulstrode rhododendron seedlings after WWI and began breeding hybrids. Assisted by John Guille Millais, he constantly improved the gardens until his death in 1958.

According to estate papers in the Cumbria Archive, Queen Mary visited the Castle in 1934, presumably to discuss the Muncaster Estate.

Additionally, a compensation agreement and a surrender of premises, royalties and interests in Cumberland drafted in 1932, as well as sales particulars, draft conveyances, and enfranchisement papers exist from around the same time.

1958 (Castle redecorated)

Lady Pennington-Ramsden redecorated the Castle.

1968

Muncaster opened regularly to the public, featuring a bird garden and a mini zoo.

1985 (Pennington family moves back into the Castle)

Phyllida Gordon-Duff-Pennington and her husband, Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington, inherit the castle and move in with their children, becoming the first family to live full-time on the property since 1917.

The castle was said to be losing £50,000 a year by this time, and Phyllida and Patrick worked hard over the next 30 years to establish the “crumbling relic” as a welcoming place for tourism and events. The couple is said to have adopted the motto, “The ornaments of a house are the friends that frequent it,” and encouraged the Muncaster staff to embrace this philosophy.

1990s

The final Asiatic black bears on the estate left Cumbria in 1990, being transferred to Dudley Zoo, leaving the Muncaster bear pit empty.

Around this time, Phyllada and Patrick’s daughter, Iona Frost-Pennington, and her husband, Peter, take over the estate's affairs.

In the latter years of the decade, Muncaster was re-roofed as part of the “Third Millennium Muncaster” project, which also included rejuvenating the zoo and bird gardens.

Over the years, the Penningtons, along with loyal staff members and dedicated volunteers, stem the losses and begin to make a small surplus on Muncaster, which they re-invest into the estate.

2019

Ewan Frost-Pennington, son of Iona, installed a ground source heat pump, benefitting the building and providing low carbon energy to decrease humidity and temperature fluctuations throughout the castle.

October 2021 (Recovery funds granted)

Muncaster was one of 142 sites to receive part of the government’s £35-million Culture Recovery Fund.

With a claim to make the castle carbon-neutral, south-facing solar panels were installed on the roof of the Meadowvole Maze attraction. These panels currently run the electrics for the castle.

May 2023

Ewan Frost-Pennington begins his first season as the castle’s “custodian” (a term he prefers over heir). The highly ambitious former environmental engineer plans to make Muncaster a zero-carbon castle over the next decade.

The castle receives upwards of 90,000 visitors annually.

Muncaster Castle Architecture

With a style evolving from medieval to Gothic-romantic and resulting in “Victorian-rustification,” the present castle is purportedly the product of expansions and re-imaginings by several Lord Muncasters, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. Gothic in build, the castle’s features include pointed arches, tall towers, intricate carvings on the exterior, and primarily Victorian furnishings within.

Early Muncaster

The original layout of Muncaster Castle is virtually unknown, as architectural records pre-dating the 16th century are largely unavailable. Records indicate that no manor home was on the site, only ruins of an ancient Roman fort, until the early 13th century when the original hall is finally said to have been built with 8-foot thick granite walls to guard the Cumbrian coast against marauding Scots.

The 14th century supposedly saw the addition of the medieval Pele Tower, with a watch-tower fortification style unique to the English-Scothish border region. By far the oldest part of the Castle, it was constructed using the Roman fort ruins on site as a foundation and still stands today –though remodeled– on the Southwest side of the building.

Muncaster was said to be modified and enlarged on a number of occasions. The need for a fortified residence was fading by the Tudor period, so the family had the hall and tower remodeled for comfort. By the mid-18th century, the estate featured both Gothic and Georgian architectural styles.

Current Layout

The most notable and extensive alterations occurred in the 1780s, when the first Baron Muncaster completely rebuilt the castle, transforming it from a deteriorating fortress into a stylish home for entertainment more closely resembling the Castle we know today. Some of his additions included sash windows, an orangery, a magnificent octagonal library with a Gothic vault, and the de rigueur folly.

Nikolaus Pevsner later described the original tower as tunnel-vaulted at ground level, with the entrance next to a spiral staircase in the Northeast corner and another staircase from the first floor in the Southwest corner. The tracery of the windows remained on the top floor. Medieval house walls also remained, extending North from the Northeast corner.

The last major work campaign occurred between 1862 and 1866 by Anthony Salvin, a fashionable Victorian architect of the time, who undertook a large-scale internal remodeling and refurbishment of the Castle. The Pele Tower was left unaltered, and a new tower was constructed on the Northwest side to reflect the medieval Pele Tower and create a symmetrical facade for the Castle.

Salvin also added battlements and transomed and mullioned windows and remodeled the Georgian house.

Some of the more notable rooms he remodeled include the Library, with a ribbed ceiling and handsome brass railing along the gallery; the Drawing Room, a converted courtyard with barrel ceiling; and the former Billard Room, featuring an oblong skylight.

As a result, most of what you can visit today is a Victorian mansion. Guests are welcome to explore the fine art and furniture inside the Library, Drawing Room, Dining Room, State Bedrooms, and historic Great Hall.

Most recently, Crosby Granger Architects became engaged as the Castle and Estate architects with Project Architect. This pairing is intended to help repair and maintain the Grade I listed building as well as execute special developments aimed to enhance the guest experience.

Tales of Tom Fool & Haunted Muncaster

There are two other tales commonly parroted in articles about Muncaster Castle, which I didn’t delve too deep into but are worth mentioning.

Portrait of Tom Fool hanging in Muncaster

The first is that of Tom Skelton, aka Tom Fool, noted as the final Jester of Muncaster following his death in 1600, as the tradition of appointing jesters waned with the restoration of Charles II to the throne. Yet, Tom's significance as a retainer to the Pennington family is evident from the fact they had two portraits commissioned in his honor, which visitors can view during a tour of the castle.

In a recent tribute to Tom the Fool, the Pennington family has revived the practice of appointing an official Fool of Muncaster each year at the Festival of Fools.

And while I could see the family having a fondness for those in their employ, this is all rather curious given that Tom was known for his mischievous nature, and his pranks were often far from amusing. Legend has it that he would sit on the cannon bank beneath a chestnut tree, now known as Tom Fool's Tree, and lead lost travelers towards quicksand if he took a dislike to them.

He is also said to have killed a carpenter who was having an affair with Sir Alan Pennington’s daughter. Many believe that even after his death, his spirit continues to linger in that area, and occasional incidents at the castle reflect his malevolent attributes.

Plaque posted under the Chestnut tree at Muncaster Castle

On that note, the other common tale, typical with most castles, is about ghosts. Muncaster Castle is renowned as one of the most haunted castles in the UK. In addition to Tom’s antics, visitors often recount witnessing disappearing figures, hearing inexplicable noises, and feeling an overwhelming sense of an unsettling presence enveloping them, with the most eerie experiences reported in The Tapestry Room.

The castle is also said to be haunted by the White Lady, the lingering spirit of a former housekeeper, a young Margaret Pennington, who was said to have died of “screaming fits,” as well as the souls of numerous others believed to have met their demise there.

Sources

Penningtons/Mulcasters

Muncaster Castle Architecture

Pevsner, Nikolaus. Cumberland and Westmorland (Buildings of England). Revised Ed., Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2002.
MUNCASTER CASTLE, Muncaster - 1068780 | Historic England
*NOT SECURE*Muncaster Castle (The Gatehouse Record) (gatehouse-gazetteer.info)
Muncaster Castle - Crosby Granger Architects
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