Castle Rushen in the 17th Century

The floor below in medieval times housed a long gallery, public dining hall and kitchen. The main rooms now depict aspects of the 17th century, when once again, the Lords of Mann spent some time on the Island. By this period the Lords, when in residence, lived in Derby House, within the Castle walls by the main entrance. Several inventories of the contents give precise descriptions of the appearance of the rooms.

The Dining Room

The dining room of Charles, 9th Earl of Derby, is furnished with the folding ‘Spanish tables’ and ‘bullrush chairs’ popular in the 1690s, while the decorative maps on the wall were another status symbol.

The food laid out on the table shows the banquet or dessert served after supper—a large selection of sugar confectionery, fruit, creams, jellies and biscuits accompanied by fine wines, strong ales and punch.

The Presence Chamber and Chair of Estate

The main hall is an accurate recreation of how the Lord’s Presence Chamber, dominated by the Chair of Estate, might have appeared when the Lord of Mann—James Stanley—first came to the Island in the 1640s. At this time, while the English Civil War raged, there was considerable unrest in the Island, and James held formal ceremonial meetings at both Castle Rushen and Peel Castle as part of his strategy to re-impose his rule on a disaffected people.

This stately hall draws upon the Surrender Inventory of 1651 to recreate the splendour of its furnishings at this time.

The 17th Century Kitchen

By the main hall is the kitchen, with its open fire and cooking spit, food preparation table, water barrel, and “sink” with a chute for the disposal of slops.

The herbs drying in the kitchen were both for food use and for the brewing of the household’s ale, while the birds hanging from the wooden beams and hooks include gamebirds and waders, plentiful on the Island at this time.

The outside stone staircase, originally designed to make entry into the tower more secure, leads from the first floor down into the central courtyard where one of the Castle’s wells is sited.

Bringing the past alive

Castle Rushen is a living castle with fires in the grates, richly decorated walls and dining rooms where peacock and suckling pig are being served. Through the recreated displays of life in the medieval and 17th century periods, this ancient fortress of the Kings and Lords of Mann lives again as a major part of the Island’s dramatic heritage presentation - The Story of Mann

Please see the Visitor Information page for details of opening hours and admission charges where applicable.