Elsdon Tower
Elsdon Tower
Elsdon Tower is located in Northumberland
Elsdon Tower
Elsdon Tower
Location within Northumberland
OS grid referenceNY93609339
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
PoliceNorthumbria
FireNorthumberland
AmbulanceNorth East

Elsdon Tower is a Grade I listed medieval tower house converted for use as a Rectory situated at Elsdon, Northumberland.[1] Originally part of the estate of Elsdon Castle, it later become a rectory and is now a private residence. The original construction dates from the 15th century and has been modified several times.

History

The property was first recorded as Vicars Pele, a pele tower in the occupation of the Rector of Elsdon in 1415.[1] There is nearby a medieval motte and bailey castle, which was built by Robert de Umfraville and is known as Elsdon Castle.[2]

The tower originally contained four storeys, was reduced in the 17th century to only three with a steeply sloping roof above a castellated parapet.[3] It is 13.15 by 9.4 metres (43.1 ft × 30.8 ft), with the longer side running from west-north-west to east-south-east. The walls are about 2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in) thick. It has a timber roof.[4][5] The parapets display the crest of the Umfraville family, who lived in the area but abandoned Eldon Castle for Harbottle Castle.[6]

Subsequent buildings have been adjoined on the north and west of the tower.[4] Between 1820–1826, Archdeacon Singleton built an entrance porch and a two-storey, two-bayed house extension.[1][3][5]

The tower was Grade I listed in 1953.[1] It was in use as the Rectory until 1960.[3] It was fully renovated and restored between 1995 and 1998, which included a significant amount of archaeological research during the works.[4] The only remaining features of the original 15th century construction are a garderobe and fireplace on the original first floor.[5] The tower is closed to the public but access is available to view it from nearby.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Historic England. "Elsdon Tower (1371439)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1007524)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Structures of the North East". Newcastle University. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Elsdon Tower". The Gatehouse Records. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Emery, Anthony (1996). Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300-1500: Volume 1, Northern England. Cambridge University Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-521-49723-7.
  6. ↑ Pettifer, Adrian (2002). English Castles: A Guide by Counties. Boydell & Brewer. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-851-15782-5.
  7. ↑ Dillon, Paddy (2011). The Reivers Way. Cicerone Press Limited. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-849-65457-9.
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