Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Pendrago(u)n, -un 1309 ChancW 1314 Fine 1315 Ipm 1323 Fine 1324 MinAcct 1660 CliffordL

• Pendragon castrum 1586 Camd

• Pendragon Castle 1610 1671 Fleming 1673 CWv,190 1777 M

• Pendraggon Castle 1673 CWv,193

• Malvestang 1228 Pat

• -Mallerstang 1334 Cl 1309 ChancWi,291

Etymology

Pendragon Castle, 'the castle of Pendrago (u )n , -un ' 1309 ChancW, 1314 Fine, 1315 Ipm, 1323 Fine, 1324MinAcct et passim to 1660 CliffordL 89, Pendragon castrum 1586 Camd, Pendragon Castle 1610 ib, 1671 Fleming, 1673 CW v, 190et freq to 1777 M, Pendraggon Castle 1673 CW v, 193. Like Camlet Moat (Mx 72) and King Arthur's Round Table (ii, 205infra ), the castle was named through the medieval Arthurian romances, in this case from King Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur, and NB 562 reports a local tradition that Pendragon sought to fortify the castle by diverting the Eden round it, but unsuccessfully, and cites the local proverb 'Let Uther Pendragon do what he can, Eden will run where Eden ran'. This small castle, which controlled Mallerstang Forest and the route over to Yorkshire, was originally built in the 12th century and is now a ruin (cf. RCHM 163–4); it was 'decayed' in the time of Lady Anne Clifford (1653 CliffordL 54) but by 1660 she had begun to repair it (ib 89, cf. also NB 563). It may be the same castle as 'the castle of Malvestang ' 1228 Pat, -Mallerstang 1334 Cl; in 1309 (ChancW i, 291) a licence to crenellate it was granted.