Weeping Window at Carlisle Castle 21st June 2018

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Weeping Window is one of two sculptures from the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation, originally displayed at the Tower of London in 2014. The original artwork consisted of 888,246 poppies, one to commemorate every British or Colonial life lost at the Front during the First World War.
The two poppy sculptures being presented across the UK, have been saved for the nation by the Backstage Trust and the Clore Duffield Foundation, and gifted to 14-18 NOW and Imperial War Museums. 14-18 NOW gives people across the UK a chance to experience the impact of the poppy sculptures in a range of places with links to the First World War. 


A tantalising glimpse of the Weeping Window sculpture, by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, is seen as you approach the castle. Carlisle Castle was the HQ for the Volunteer Training Corps during WW1. It was also the HQ for the King's Own Royal Border Regiment from 1873 until 1959.
23,000 recruits passed through the castle during WW1 with the Border Regiment losing nearly 7,000 lives  after seeing action in France, Flanders, India, Burma, Italy, Mesopotamia and Macedonia.
The regiment won 5 Victoria crosses.


Once through the gate you see the full impact of the Weeping Window.


It flows from the top of the keep, arching over the inner ward wall and cascades down into the outer ward, enabling visitors to see the sculpture from below for the first time.



A very sobering, but at the same time, inspiring sculpture

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