About 1,000 years ago, my family married into the Lowther Family, who were landed gentry in the Cumbria part of England.

Frances Claiborn (Lowther) married my ancestor Thomas Cleborne [Claiborne]

Thomas Cleborne, 1574 – 1640

Frances Claiborn (Lowther)
Birthdate:	August 10, 1578
Birthplace:	Lowther, Cumbria, England (United Kingdom)
Death:	1640 (61-62) Lowther, Cumbria, England (United Kingdom)
Immediate Family:	Daughter of Sir Richard Lowther, of Lowther Hall, Lord Warden of West Marches and Frances Lowther Ex-wife of Thomas Claiborne Mother of Grace Edmundson (Claiborn); Mary Claiborn; Ann Claiborn; Edmund Claiborn; Richard Claiborn and 2 others Sister of John Lowther; Anne Featherstone; Sir Christopher Lowther, Kt., of Lowther Hall; George Lowther, of Lowther Hall; Florence Lowther and 10 others

The Ruins of the Lowther Castle
Image Credit: Tranquil Otter

Narrated by Jim Lowther

Viking Dynasty

“The Lowthers are one of the oldest arms-bearing families in England. The Lowthers are direct descendants of a Viking settler named Dolfin who is reputed to have named the nearby turbulent river Lowth-a (foaming river) and begun the 900-year-old dynasty.

Death & Ruin

“The castle’s present remains date back to 1806 and were designed by Robert Smirke, the architect also responsible for the British Museum in London. Once famed for its hundreds of rooms and extensive art collection, the castle was abandoned after the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, the ‘Yellow Earl’ squandered the family fortune.  Following considerable death duties and wartime requisition by the Army the beautiful building was turned into a Ruin in 1957 by the 7th Earl, James Lonsdale. The 7th Earl had the rood removed the sold all the fixture and fitting.

A beautiful valley

“Just over half a century later the castle is flourishing again. It’s now one of the most popular tourist spots in Cumbria.

The Stable Gallery

“The exhibition in the Stable Gallery tells the story of Lowther through the centuries and generations and is a “must-see”.  And for younger visitors, there’s an adventure playground to test their mettle.

Magnificent Gardens

“Although the castle may no longer be as grand as it once was, the gardens are still magnificent and retain their original 17th-century plan. The garden is 130 acres, and many acres are mixed woodland.” Tranquil Otter

Image Credit: Tranquil Otter

“Lowther has been the seat of the Lowther family since the 12th century. With a continuous male-line descent over six centuries, the family is one of the oldest armigerous families in England, their arms with gold annulets or rings on a sable ground being a variation of those of the Norman overlords of Westmorland, the Vetriponts or Viponts.

“Every head of the family from the 14th to 16th centuries was knighted, fought in Scotland, represented Westmorland in Parliament and served as High Sheriff.” Country Life

Image Credit Country Life

image credit Country Lif

Lowther – Painting by J M W Turner

William Lowther, Earl of Lonsdale and his wife, Lady Augustus Fane, the Countess of Lonsdale entertained artists and writers at the Castle. The painter J.M.W. Turner painted the castle and William Wordsworth wrote several lines of poetry and several letters while there.