Hadrian’s Wall Path: Day 3

/ alliwanders

Today is my Carlisle Sightseeing Day. A beautiful sunny morning as I left the hotel, turned the corner and entered the cathedral close. I knew it was close by as they were practicing bell ringing for an hour last night (!). Fortunately it was melodic, not ear-splitting 🙂

Carlisle Cathedral circa 1133
Voted the ‘Nation’s Favorite Stained Glass Window’
Lots of lovely buildings and gardens within the close, and, as always, a cafe. Love me a cream tea!

Carlisle is a very compact city so it was only a 5 minute walk over to Carlisle Castle. Obviously Carlisle was booming a 1000 years ago as this castle was started in 1092 so lots of building going on. It is also the “most besieged fortress in England” as those marauding Scots kept attacking over and over again over the centuries.

A squat keep
With supporting buildings within tall walls and a moat outside to deter attackers
It was an official Royal Palace but primarily used by the military until 1960’s (there’s a whole modern section to the grounds as well)
Like Newcastle’s Keep: small open rooms
One tiny side room was used as a prison cell in the 1460’s and it’s thought that the jailers whiled away their time carving the stone walls…
Pretty talented!

Across the street is the Tullie Museum = a combination of city history, art, and an excellent display of Roman history and artifacts found at nearby archeological sites…

Amazing that leather can survive 2000 years!
Bits of Roman armor

And finally a walk around town. There’s been a market/festival going on in the pedestrian street in front of my hotel the last few days so loads of people and loads of tantalizing smells. Being a Sunday however I had to indulge in a Sunday Roast lunch. Mikey, I found the Cumbria Roast Company which serves your choice of meal inside an 8” Yorkshire pudding! Delish!

The first red post box in England was erected in Carlisle in 1853
Roast pork dinner

Another dry day! Though rain is expected to fall tonight. Will it be dry again tomorrow? I’ve another free day Monday and have to decide to walk another stage ahead of schedule or do more sightseeing…. 🤔