Peel Castle - The Lord's House
The buildings to the north of the Cathedral have been dated as early as the 11th. century and have variously been described as the quarters of the Norse King Magnus, as the Bishop’s House, as the Earl of Derby’s House, and as the accommodation for a college of Vicars Choral.
Twenty-four guns of various types were surrendered from the Castle on November 3 1651, and a surrender inventory taken at the time showed that the 7th. Earl had lived in considerable comfort in the castle.
Notable amongst the silver was a "tea cup gilt". and amongst other materials was a canopy of tushie (cloth interwoven with gold) for a "Chayre of State, with furniture for the chayre, stooles and foot stoole suitable, laced with rich plate lace, being fourteen peeces and fringed with large silver fringe........"
In 1694 the Earl’s residence "having been time out of mind taken into the Lord of the Island’s hands", (probably about 1540), consisted of "my Lord’s Bedchamber", the old bedchamber, the inner and outer dressing rooms and the old dressing room, the closet, the parlour, the "new Dining Room" and the drawing room.
The new rooms were probably built or improved by James, the 7th. Earl, between 1644 and 1651. However, William, the 9th. Earl, also repaired and refurbished the residence between 1694 and 1702.
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