VISITORS watched history brought to life when Dalton Castle stage a medieval court trial.   

The 14th-century tower was the manorial courthouse of Furness Abbey.

Iron Shepherds Living History Group demonstrated how law and order was kept in Furness by the monks of the abbey.   

Visitors to the castle on Saturday could see a prisoner being kept in the dungeon under armed guard.

The prisoner, Heather of Beckside, was brought up the spiral staircase and presented before the abbott in the courtroom. She was accused of selling spring lambs in Ulverston, which was forbidden as it was outside of the township of Dalton.

Families got to take on the role of jurors as she pleaded her case.

The jurors found Heather guilty but asked for a lenient sentence.

She was fined three spring lambs and ordered to spend the day and night in the castle dungeon, and was warned she would be put in the stocks if she was unruly.

The event also featured medieval basket making  and woodwork.

Graham and Sheila Parkinson, from Kirkby Lonsdale, visited the Dalton Castle event after going to Swarthmoor Hall.

The Parkinsons became jurors during one of the courtroom trial reconstructions.

Mr Parkinson said: "We didn't expect that. It's been a very good event."   Dalton Castle was given to The National Trust by the 8th Duke of Buccleuch in 1965. The building is looked after by The Friends of Dalton Castle. 

After the dissolution of Furness Abbey in 1537, the castle continued as a courthouse for more than 300 years. It was owned at by the Crown and then by the Dukes of Albermarle, the Dukes of Montagu, and finally the Dukes of Buccleuch. 

The castle was originally made from wood before it was constructed from stone.  

Dalton Castle is open every Saturday from 2pm to 5pm between Easter and September through The Friends of Dalton Castle.