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Carlisle Leasing

Did You Know?

Carlisle is a cathedral city in the ceremonial county of Cumbria in England. It is the administrative centre of Cumberland Council which covers an area similar to the historic county of Cumberland.

Carlisle is a city with plenty of history. It started as a Roman fort back in 72 AD, providing support for Hadrian's Wall, and its importance as a border town has kept it relevant ever since.

Carlisle is renowned for its history, with the city being home to a number of museums, Roman ruins, an ancient castle and priory. The city began as a Roman town called Luguvalium and was the northern frontier.

Carlisle has been a significant place since well before Roman times and is currently the largest city in England by area with a population of over 100,000. The city is at the northern extreme of the north west of England only 10 miles from the border with Scotland.

The Roman name for Carlisle was Luguvalio which, by 1106, had been changed to Carleol, which is the origin of the modern day 'Carlisle'. This is probably derived from an earlier Welsh word Caer or Cair, meaning 'fort, fortress'.

The first castle at Carlisle was built over part of the first Roman fort by William II ('William Rufus'; reigned 1087–1100) after he defeated the local warlord Dolfin in 1092.

Along with The Sportsman and The Joiners Arms, the Kings Head is one the oldest pubs in the Carlisle. The present building dates from the seventeenth century but it is understood to be on a site occupied by a hostelry as far back as the tenth century.

Standing proud in the city it has dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle remained a working fortress until well within living memory. It has withstood many sieges, and held captive a royal prisoner.

However in 1135, on the death of King Henry I , King David I of Scotland took back control of the area, making Carlisle one of his chief seats of Scots government, until Henry II took it back again in 1157.

Carlisle is twinned with Flensburg in northern Germany and Slupsk in Poland, with each city enjoying the benefits of cross-cultural links through music concerts, sports events and school exchanges. 

Carlisle Castle was the seat of the Lord Warden of the West March. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III (r. 1483–5), was among the notable figures who filled the role.

Did you know that Carlisle could claim to be the most cosmopolitan city in Britain – in terms of rulers? It was founded as Luguvalium by the Romans; when they left in the early 5th century the Picts took it over; the Vikings were next on the list; and the Scots displaced them. The Normans added Carlisle to their territory after the Conquest.