Norman Invasion

When the Normans conquered England in 1066, Carlisle was under Scottish rule and does not appear in the Domesday Book, but in 1092 William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror) came north and ‘drove out Dolfin' from Carlisle. Dolfin was probably a vassal of the king of Scotland.

William immediately began to strengthen the defences of his newly acquired city, first building a timber castle on the site of the Roman fort (later rebuilt in stone). The king also parcelled out lands around Carlisle to his lords to reward them for their loyalty. Harraby, Upperby, Botcherby, Etterby, Tarraby, Rickerby and Aglionby are all named after Norman lords, who each added the Danish suffix ‘by' to their name. The Priory of St Mary was established by Henry I for Augustinian canons, with Blackfriar's (Dominican) and Greyfriar's (Franciscan) monasteries located in other parts of the city centre. The Tithe Barn was built in the 15th century to store the tithes (one-tenth of every farmer's crop) for use by the prior and his staff.

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