The Muncaster Podcast

In this episode we kick off the podcast proper with a conversation with Peter Frost-Pennington, member of the family and current resident of the castle.

He takes us on a whistlestop tour through the many twists and turns of the history of Muncaster and the Pennington family, from its prehistoric origins, Roman roots, royal connections and surprising role in WWII, right up to the present day.

It's the perfect way to begin to get to know, or to refresh your knowledge of Muncaster ahead of the exciting episodes we have lined up here on the Podcast.

Muncaster Castle Gardens & Estate | Lake District Visitor Attraction, Events, Festival and Activities

In this pilot episode of The Muncaster Podcast we chat to local historian Alan Cleaver, who came to deliver a fascinating talk in the castle on the 16th of December 2025. Alan is the author of A Lake District Christmas: Tales and Traditions of Cumbrian Yuletides Past and he shares with us some of his favourite, local traditions and tales. We also delve deeper into the process of researching and compiling the anthology, as well as discussing the importance of preserving fragile, local, historical traditions. 

If you enjoy this episode, or want to learn more about the history of Muncaster, its local area, its collections and the people behind the scenes who work to preserve this history for future generations, keep your eyes peeled on our social media and website for more podcast episodes coming soon!