The name of Papcastle is said to be a compound formed from Old Norse and Old English papi+cæster, meaning 'the Roman fort inhabited by a hermit'.

More parts of the vicus were excavated from Sibby Brows field and the house of the Buckinghams in the village itself, during an episode of British archaeological TV programme Time Team in 1999.

The major flood of 2009 led to the discovery of Roman remains on the south side of the River, including well-preserved foundations of a watermill.

This led to a three-year archaeological programme on both sides of the river, finding several bathhouse phases, mansio, and eventually the remains of the bridge.

[citation needed] Stagecoach Cumbira operates a bus service, numbered the 600, which connects Papcastle with Cockermouth, Wigton and Carlisle.