SD7441 : Clitheroe Castle park: autumn paths
taken 5 years ago, near to Clitheroe, Lancashire, England
The castle was built by the De Lacy family to whom William the Conqueror had granted lands around what was then called Cliderow. It is situated overlooking the Ribble Valley, a major trade route across the Pennines since Roman times or earlier.
Only the roofless keep and a short length of wall remain of the medieval fortifications, but they are listed grade I (list entry 1071553), and with the castle grounds form a Scheduled Ancient Monument (entry 1016196).
The Castle site and grounds were purchased by public subscription by the then borough council from Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in November 1920, to form a memorial to the 260 soldiers from the town who lost their lives in the war. The grounds were laid out as a public park, as they remain to this day, and are listed grade II, entry 1001361.