Carlisle Cathedral

Perhaps the most beautiful building in Carlisle. Its origin is Norman and there are still traces of this period to be seen. Some of the arches in the south transept have been affected by subsidence as a result of a very severe draught in the 13th Century.

The bulk of the church is made up of the 14th century chancel, whose splendid barrel roof has been excellently restored over the years.

The wooden choir stalls have detailed 15th century carvings on one side and paintings on the reverse. The former have been damaged during the civil war by Cromwell’s followers.

The east window retains most of its original 14th century glass. http://www.carlislecathedral.org.uk/left.htm

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Carlisle Castle

Not a fairytale castle but a robust and impressive fortification that was built to respell the border skirmishes. Positioned on the Scottish border, it saw more violence than most other English castles. The oldest section is the keep, which dates back to 1150, although a recent dig has unearthed plenty of proof to show that it sits on an even older Roman site. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/carlisle-castle/

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Tullie House Museum

Travel through time at this wonderfully lively museum, and come face to face with the people who lived, loved, fought and died for this part of Britain over the past ten thousand years.

New for summer 2001 is a stunning underground millennium gallery, combining the museums unseen treasures with the cutting edge of contempory art. http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/

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Guildhall Museum

Medieval trade guilds used to meet in this guildhall which survived, neglected, until 1977. Since then, the building has been restored and houses an interesting time capsule of early Carlisle street life. http://www.visitcumbria.com/car/the-guildhall-museum.htm

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Old Town Hall

The old town hall that now houses the tourist information centre, was built in 1717. Facing it is the Carlisle cross, a historic monument that marks the centre of the original Roman city. The present cross was erected in 1682 and is the spot where all the important declarations in the city’s history were proclaimed.

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Linton Tweed

For an exclusive preview of tomorrow’s designs being woven today, Linton Visitor Centre offers a superb opportunity to see how exquisite cloths are produced for the fashion world’s finest, including Coco Chanel & Yves St Laurent to name but a few. http://www.lintondirect.co.uk/

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Tithe Barn

This historical tithe barn has been restored to serve as a parish hall. It was built towards the end of the 15th century by Prior Gondibour a large barn to house the tithes from the city and the Carlisle plain. (Goods handed over for taxes). If you look closely, you will see that some of the outer wall is made from recycled sandstone blocks, previously used in Hadrian’s Wall, and carry the cutters mark.

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St Cuthbert's Church

The present building dates back to 1779, although a church has stood on this spot since the 7th century. It has a unique moveable pulpit and stained glass windows; one being 14th Century, there is also a modern series of the life of St. Cuthbert.

Citadel-South gate and old court house

Unfinished as a fortress for the southern end of the city walls, the citadel became the County’s Court House in 1807. The courts themselves are open for viewing by guided tour , check for opening times.

Market Hall

The outside skin remains the same with its substantial sandstone walls and its decorative iron and glass roof, but the interior has been changed beyond recognition. The market hall is still there in a corner of the great hall, with its meat, fish and vegetable stalls along side haberdashery, paintings and newsvendors. But the hall has now been taken over by two large retail stores, TK Max the American discount designer warehouse and a national hardware store.

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Reivers

Reivers gave the English language two of its most ominous words:

Blackmail - rent paid to Reivers for "protection", as opposed to the legitimate rent, or greenmail…and BEREAVED or "be-reived"

The land of the Reivers.

A 100 mile swath of wild country that spans from the Irish Sea to the West to the North Sea in the East was for over 350 years up to the end of the 16th century a hostile barren land called the debatable lands.

What is now Northumberland, Cumbria, The Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway were the forbidden lands of the Reivers. Robbery and blackmail were common place, raiding, arson, kidnapping, murder and extortion was an accepted part of the social system.

They were what we would call today gangsters organised on highly professional lines, who perfected the protection racket three centuries before Chicago was built. They gave blackmail to the English language.

Travel was a dangerous business. The traveller had to move cautiously by day and always sought shelter long before the darkness of night fell and rarely found a welcome because of the suspicion the people had for all strangers in their land.

The area today is liberally dotted with castles, stately homes, the ruins of historic abbeys, fortified homesteads (Bastille's), the remains of pele towers and the atmospheric remnants of abandoned hamlets, hidden in remote valleys, far from the main routes taken by the modern day tourist.

The turbulent history is etched into the structure of what remains, the Reiver graveyards all bear testament to the turbulent history, to the brutal activities of the warring families and the indiscriminate pillaging, plundering and merciless cruelty that drove fear into the heart and souls of ordinary border folk.

This lawless state was allowed to flourish unchecked for 350 years. Seven generations for vendettas to be passed on from Great grandfathers to the children of the wicked and the damned.

Hidden lairs were places of sanctuary, places to hide when be pursued by other warring factions, hidden valleys were 1000 head of cattle could be hidden unnoticed, spirited away from the unsuspecting landowners. http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/country/reivers.shtml

Shopping

Carlisle is a shopper's paradise where well known national chains rub shoulders with the very best of home grown talent.

The award winning "Lanes" is a modern shopping centre, sited on the medieval lanes that once crossed the heart of the city.

The Lanes has over 50 shops, and it's growing all the time as key names vie for space. Littlewoods and Debenhams join GAP, H&M, Dixons, Millies Cookies and such other high street favourites as Bhs, Virgin, Laura Ashley, Dorothy Perkins, JJB, Earnest Jones and other high street shops offering a fantastic selection of fashion and gifts for all.

Debenhams new Cafe Venue offers wonderful views of the castle whilst recovering from a hard day of retail therapy. www.thelanescarlisle.com

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