Warkworth Gatehouse (Warkworth)
[NU 24800621] Tower (Ruins of). (1)
A simple gateway guarded Warkworth Bridge [NU 20 NW 12] at its south end. It is of two stories without buttresses or string courses and measures 27ft 3ins by 18ft externally. The entrance, 10ft wide, is by a four centred archway of two chamfered orders continued to the ground and opening into a passage 11ft in width covered with a flat vaulted ceiling. On the west side of the passage an arched opening gives access to a porters lodge measuring 12ft 3ins by 6ft 3ins covered by a flat four centred vault. On the east side of the passage a door opens into a stone newel staircase in the thickness of the wall which is here 5ft thick, elsewhere the walls are 2ft 4ins thick. The restored upper floor is roofless and measures (2)2ft 6ins by 13ft 3ins. The rooms are lit by various slits in the walls. The roof is devoid of parapet or machicolations. Portions of the east end of the upper chamber and the arch to the gateway and masonry over it have been restored. (2)
The tower still standing at the south end of Warkworth Bridge [NU 20 NW 12] was described in a survey made in 1567 as 'a little toure on thende of the sayd bridge' and was evidently in much need of repair for 'the sayd toure ys wthout rooff and cover'. (3)
Scheduled as Ancient Monument. (4)
Architectural description in T2(1) correct. Tower measures 8.5m x 5.5m and is approx 8m high, with upper floor roofless. The arch is 3.5m wide. The north and south walls have been braced internally on east side at first floor level. Situated at south end of Warkworth Bridge, the tower is an obstacle to traffic using the bridge and has been scraped in numerous places. Used as a storehouse for road equipment. (5)
Condition unchanged. (6)
Gatehouse. (7)
Grade I Warkworth Bridge - head Tower Scheduled Ancient Monument. The only surviving bridge-head tower in Northumberland or Durham. Late 14th or 15th century. Plain stone structure, pierced by an archway with a depressed vault and battlements, and a porter's chamber on the west side. 27ft 3ins x 18ft 0ins externally. (8)
One of two fortified bridges of the Middle Ages in Britain (other at Monmouth). (9)
Bridge-head tower. Grade II listed building. (10)
Scheduled. (11)
The tower is not considered to have had much defensive strength and there is no evidence of any substantial defensive perimeter. It appears to have been in ruins for a long time, the oldest prints traced so far (c.1797) show it in a similar state as it is today. It has been restored although the extent of rebuilt fabric is unclear. A first floor doorway seems to have been inserted on the south side and then blocked up again. It is suggested the upper floor could have been remodelled as a house and then all post-medieval fabric removed and left a roofless ruin in the later 18th century. (12)
NU 249 063. Warkworth Bridge and gatehouse. Scheduled No ND/18. (13a)
A simple gateway guarded Warkworth Bridge [NU 20 NW 12] at its south end. It is of two stories without buttresses or string courses and measures 27ft 3ins by 18ft externally. The entrance, 10ft wide, is by a four centred archway of two chamfered orders continued to the ground and opening into a passage 11ft in width covered with a flat vaulted ceiling. On the west side of the passage an arched opening gives access to a porters lodge measuring 12ft 3ins by 6ft 3ins covered by a flat four centred vault. On the east side of the passage a door opens into a stone newel staircase in the thickness of the wall which is here 5ft thick, elsewhere the walls are 2ft 4ins thick. The restored upper floor is roofless and measures (2)2ft 6ins by 13ft 3ins. The rooms are lit by various slits in the walls. The roof is devoid of parapet or machicolations. Portions of the east end of the upper chamber and the arch to the gateway and masonry over it have been restored. (2)
The tower still standing at the south end of Warkworth Bridge [NU 20 NW 12] was described in a survey made in 1567 as 'a little toure on thende of the sayd bridge' and was evidently in much need of repair for 'the sayd toure ys wthout rooff and cover'. (3)
Scheduled as Ancient Monument. (4)
Architectural description in T2(1) correct. Tower measures 8.5m x 5.5m and is approx 8m high, with upper floor roofless. The arch is 3.5m wide. The north and south walls have been braced internally on east side at first floor level. Situated at south end of Warkworth Bridge, the tower is an obstacle to traffic using the bridge and has been scraped in numerous places. Used as a storehouse for road equipment. (5)
Condition unchanged. (6)
Gatehouse. (7)
Grade I Warkworth Bridge - head Tower Scheduled Ancient Monument. The only surviving bridge-head tower in Northumberland or Durham. Late 14th or 15th century. Plain stone structure, pierced by an archway with a depressed vault and battlements, and a porter's chamber on the west side. 27ft 3ins x 18ft 0ins externally. (8)
One of two fortified bridges of the Middle Ages in Britain (other at Monmouth). (9)
Bridge-head tower. Grade II listed building. (10)
Scheduled. (11)
The tower is not considered to have had much defensive strength and there is no evidence of any substantial defensive perimeter. It appears to have been in ruins for a long time, the oldest prints traced so far (c.1797) show it in a similar state as it is today. It has been restored although the extent of rebuilt fabric is unclear. A first floor doorway seems to have been inserted on the south side and then blocked up again. It is suggested the upper floor could have been remodelled as a house and then all post-medieval fabric removed and left a roofless ruin in the later 18th century. (12)
NU 249 063. Warkworth Bridge and gatehouse. Scheduled No ND/18. (13a)
N5413
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; B H Pritchard
VISUAL BUILDINGS RECORD (LEVEL 1), The Bridge Tower, Warkworth 2019
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; B H Pritchard
VISUAL BUILDINGS RECORD (LEVEL 1), The Bridge Tower, Warkworth 2019
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.