Castle ruin at Outhgill, near Kirkby Stephen
Nestled in the dramatic landscape of Mallerstang Valley near the hamlet of Outhgill near Kirkby Stephen, Pendragon Castle stands as a hauntingly beautiful ruin steeped in myth and history.
Originally a three-storey stronghold with a great hall and vaulted chambers, the castle was a symbol of resilience and power.
Though its name implies the legendary Uther Pendragon and his son, King Arthur, the castle’s true origins lie in the Norman era.
The word Pendragon—meaning “Commander in Chief” in Celtic—adds a romantic layer of mystery, but the fortress was likely built around 1160 by Hugh de Morville, a Norman knight with a storied past.
In the 14th century, Lady Idonea de Veteripont took ownership of the castle, followed centuries later by Lady Anne Clifford, Countess of Pembroke, in the 1600s. By the time each woman inherited it, the structure had fallen into disrepair. Undeterred, they undertook ambitious restorations to restore it to its former glory.
Sadly, after Lady Anne’s death, Pendragon Castle was abandoned, dismantled for its stone, and left to the mercy of the elements.
Today, its ruins whisper stories of ambition, restoration, and the enduring allure of legend.
I have seen the walls of Pendragon, but they were desolate…
The fox looked from the windows and the rank grass of the wall waved round his head. Desolate is the dwelling of Pembroke; silence is in the house of her fathers.’
Fawcett Hunter of Fell End, Ravenstonedale 1797
