Statement from the Chairman of the Rose Castle Steering Group
30th September
We are delighted to announce that the Church Commissioners have agreed to give The Rose Castle Steering group two years to buy Rose Castle and we would like to say thank you to all those people who pledged their time and support to the campaign. We will be forming a Board of Trustees to take this matter forward and hope to work closely with the Church Commissioners and with the Diocese of Carlisle. We have already been in consultation with English Heritage and The National Trust and will keep everyone informed of our progress.
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE ROSE CASTLE FOR THE NATION? - Philippa Harrison
Only one building represents the unique history of the establishment of a Border between Scotland and the North West of England, Rose Castle, created for the Bishopric of Carlisle to administer the “lands which were Scottish”, before Cumbria finally became English a hundred years later than the rest of the country. Also the preeminent English castle in the medieval Scottish wars and reiver skirmishes in the North West, Rose is the only remaining monument to our turbulent border history there. Its retention, with public accessabilty and as an educational resource, is vital for the maintenance of any sort of national historical perspective.
Although today Rose, its land and gardens, have a wonderful, indeed exceptional, sense of serenity and calm, it mirrors the development of national and dynastic struggle, architectural taste and the role of the Church in England since the Norman Conquest. Now the castle mainly reflects the Gothic Revival style, its chapel well recognised as an outstanding example. But there remain the pele towers and the crenellations of the fourteenth century when Rose was burnt three times within twenty-five years only to rise again each time, phoenix-like, to become a symbol of triumph over adversity. Later besieged, taken and burnt in the Civil War, Rose was rebuilt by the Cumbrian people yet again while secular castles were abandoned and left wasted.
In this sense Rose belongs to its people, a people easily ignored by the distant centres of governance. Since Rose was decommissioned as the Bishop’s see-house , it has been made clear to the Church Commissioners that there is a local plan for removing all financial liabilities for the castle from them if they so wish, a plan which will preserve the spiritual, historic and educational value of Rose for future generations. To achieve it, everyone needs to work together. However within ten days the Church Commissioners appear to be intending to recommend that Rose goes under the hammer with no stipulations about public accessibility, educational use, use of the chapel or the great public rooms.
This situation is of paramount importance for the North of England, a travesty of natural justice and a betrayal of eight centuries of care from the bishops of Carlisle and the Cumbrian people.
Only public protest about disposal without any guarantee of the preservation of a unique resource for the public good has any chance of affecting the outcome. A petition at friendsorrosecastle.org has been hastily set up. Every press comment about the importance of Rose for the national heritage will count.
The Bishop of Carlisle has written that he very much hopes “ that a really worthwhile use for Rose can be found”. Amen.
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URGENT! PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION!
The Church Commissioners are threatening to sell Rose Castle over our heads without proper consultation or due process. We must prevent this and safeguard it for the people of Cumbria.
We have until 21st September to do it.
Click here to sign
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Click to download and read the Rose Castle
Proposal Report
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Judy Rickerby, one of the founder members of the Friends of Rose Castle says:
‘Many times in life we regret not taking action on something but this time we can .
– If you care at all about our Country's national heritage please sign our online petition to preserve this house and garden. We need the Church Commissioners in London to actually listen to our voice and work collaboratively with the people of Cumbria to find the right solution. But we are very far away from the Head Office of the Church of England and it is easy for them to ignore us and not take us seriously.”
The Petition is growing fast with names and support from all over UK.
Jane Hasell McCosh another supporter comments:
‘We cannot lose Rose Castle to private ownership, perhaps a hotel or health club. We must preserve our Cumbrian heritage for the public good. It is an amazing place and as with many ancient churches, the tranquillity is not just rooted in the natural beauty of the place but in a tradition of prayer and dedicated lives that have been at its heart down the centuries.’
The Steering Group for Rose Castle believe that just as the castle has been adapted in the past to widely changing circumstances, so it can change again. Rose Castle has important qualities which can contribute to 21st Century living to meet new needs in a flexible and imaginative way.
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