The Citadel, Carlisle

We had a pleasant sunny day in Carlisle, John spent time in the library looking for family records on fiche machine, I spent money.

The internet explains the building above:
The immense and impressive oval towers that dominate the southern entrance to the City of Carlisle, have a complex history. The two bastions known as The Citadel housed, until recently, the civil courts in the East Tower, and the criminal courts in the West Tower. The towers have undergone a major restoration, part funded by English Heritage, and the West Tower is now open to the public.

Originally, the gate into the City at the southern end was Botcher Gate or English Gate. In the 16th Century, Botcher Gate was replaced by a fortress designed by Stephan von Haschenperg, which had a central square tower flanked by round towers designed to take artillery. A new gate was made to one side. This was built as part of the national defense scheme deemed necessary as a result of European anger at Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.

In 1810-1811 two new towers, to a design originally by Thomas Telford, and later completed by Sir Robert Smirke, contained assize courts and a prison. Some 16th Century masonry still survives in the lower levels of the Eastern tower.