Living and working at the castle

Bishops’ chaplains tended to be young clergy who travelled with their bishop, but older chaplains like David, who was 52 when appointed, tended to be involved in office work, dealing with letters and documents at the castle. As David remembers, it was quite an enclosed life, but having previously spent 24 years as a monk, it didn’t feel like a hardship!

As David was the first domestic chaplain to be appointed to a bishop of Carlisle, some modifications were needed to create a home suitable for a young family.

“Several alterations had to be made at the south end of the castle to meet our needs, in particular the creation of a kitchen. Helen enjoyed the opportunity to choose appropriate wallpapers and curtains for such an amazing historic building.”

What is now known as the Pettinger’s Garden gave the family a wonderful outside space, especially with one young son and another on the way. Alex was born six months after the family arrived at the castle.

“Having a three-year-son, and expecting a second child, we were pleased to have a small walled garden visible through the kitchen windows.” 

David remembers what it was like to live at the castle alongside Bishop Ian Harland and his family, telling us “My relations with the bishop were formal, but his wife Sue and their teenage son and three daughters were very friendly.” 

David, Helen and the children remained at the castle for four and a half years. During this time they engaged Helen Hetherington, daughter of a local farmer, to help with the children.

Becoming immersed in the history 

During their time there, the history of the castle was part of David’s work and he would regularly show people around. He became fascinated with the castle and its history. 

David and his family left the castle in 1994 when David was appointed a residentiary canon at Carlisle Cathedral. Here he encountered again the historic bishops that he had come to know at the castle. 

“Deeply immersed in the subject, I eventually wrote a book about it and 67 bishops, and also made a cardboard model of it, to explain the parts destroyed in 1648 in the Civil War.” 

David's book 'Rose Castle and the Bishops of Carlisle: 1133-2012' was published in 2013.