Nov 05 1819 Carlisle Castle #2 - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Nov 05 1819 Carlisle Castle #2

The Times, Friday, Nov 05, 1819; pg. 2; Issue 10769; col C

Last week a discovery was made in Carlisle-castle which has excited considerable
interest. The workmen employed in the alterations now going forward, while
cutting loop-holes in a wall several feet in thickness, which separates the area
of the Castle from the magazine and the principal defences, discovered a
quantity of bones, and the remains of a very elegant female dress. The large
bones are presumed to be those of a woman. The backbone and rib of a child,
newly born, or very young, in an almost perfect state, were taken out, and have
been seen by various persons. The dress is composed of French silk and silver,
and appears to belong to the age of Elizabeth. Some persons think it probable
that the lady, by some frailty, had incurred the punishment of being walled up
alive, not uncommon at one period of our history. Others, more plausibly,
conceive that some secret murder will account both for the place and mode of
sepulture.