Prior Castell's Tower (Inner Farne) (North Sunderland and Seahouses)
Prior Castell's Tower on Inner Farne. Photo by Peter Ryder.
(NU 21783599) Tower. (1)
Tower on Farne. Scheduled Ancient Monument. (2)
The most recent of the monastic buildings is Prior Castell's tower, built for defence purposes by Thomas Castell (Prior of Durham 1494-1519) and finished about 1500.
It is a typical pele tower, originally four storeys in height but with only a third of the top storey now complete. The ground floor is covered by a pointed barrel vault and a straight stair in the thickness of the wall rises to a spiral stair on the south east corner. The so-called St Cuthbert's Well (NU 23 NW 2) is in the ground floor and there is a piscina in the first floor hall.
After the Dissolution the tower was used as a fort and as such is mentioned in 1559 and 1637.
In 1673 Charles II authorised the first official lighthouse on the Inner Farne. This lighthouse was merely a beacon fire of coals and timber on the top of Prior Castell's tower. The lightkeeper lived in one of the ruined chapels.
In 1848 the Venerable Charles Thorp (Archdeacon of Durham 1831-62) restored the tower, introducing new windows, refitting the interior and erecting outbuildings on the south side.
Repairs to the tower were made in 1927-8 after the property had been vested in The National Trust. (3)
Leland, writing c.1838, stated that the tower was built by Thomas Castell, Prior of Durham (1494-1519). (4)
The tower is 13.5 yards in length and 8 yards in breadth and is entered by a low round headed doorway from the east. After the Dissolution is was used by the Government as a fort and in later times as a lighthouse. (5)
The tower is a plain strong structure built c.1500. It has much of the character of a Border pele with thick walls, a vaulted under storey, stone stairs and small and narrow doors and windows. Archdeacon Thorp has recently repaired the tower and enlarged the windows. (6)
Correctly described by authorities (3), (5) and (6). The walls, of rubble masonry with ashlar quoins and chamfered plinth course, are 1.4m-1.8m thick. There are two pointed and one round headed window in the west wall but all other windows have plain square heads. The building is in good condition and in use as a store and dwelling place for the custodians. (7)
Prior Castell's Tower. Grade I listed building. Tower house. Appears to contain earlier work than that for Robert Castell, Prior of Durham (1494-1519). (8)
The earlier work includes the small lancet windows on the stairs and the trefoiled piscina on the first floor. (9)
Scheduled. (10)
In summer 1998 the opportunity arose to make a detailed study of the Tower when a scheme of repairs was carried out which included re-pointing and re-roofing the building. Detailed plans were prepared and a series of elevation drawings were made, based on a photogrammetric survey which had been carried out some years previously. (11)
A well in the tower is a stone-lined cavity approached by steps. Although it is water-filled it could not be ascertained whether the water came from a spring or was merely the result of seepage. It has been suggested that this is the second of the wells associated with St Cuthbert. (12)
A programme of historic building recording, historical research and analysis was undertaken by Peter Ryder on the monastic cell on Inner Farne. The buildings were studied in detail during conversation work. The building survey looked at the main group of buildings focussed around a small courtyard between St Cuthbert's chapel on the north and the remains of St Mary's chapel on the south. The external elevations of St Cuthbert's chapel, the external elevations and sections of Prior Castell's Tower and various worked stones lying in and around the chapel were drawn as part of the survey. (13)
Tower house, built for Robert Castell, Prior of Durham between 1494-1519, but appearing to incorporate earlier work. Originally a 4-storey building, now 3-storeyed. Random rubble with chamfered plinth. Used as a fort between 1559 and 1637. Repaired in 1848 and 1927-8. Scheduled and listed Grade I. (14a)
Listed by King and Dodds. (14b-c)
Tower on Farne. Scheduled Ancient Monument. (2)
The most recent of the monastic buildings is Prior Castell's tower, built for defence purposes by Thomas Castell (Prior of Durham 1494-1519) and finished about 1500.
It is a typical pele tower, originally four storeys in height but with only a third of the top storey now complete. The ground floor is covered by a pointed barrel vault and a straight stair in the thickness of the wall rises to a spiral stair on the south east corner. The so-called St Cuthbert's Well (NU 23 NW 2) is in the ground floor and there is a piscina in the first floor hall.
After the Dissolution the tower was used as a fort and as such is mentioned in 1559 and 1637.
In 1673 Charles II authorised the first official lighthouse on the Inner Farne. This lighthouse was merely a beacon fire of coals and timber on the top of Prior Castell's tower. The lightkeeper lived in one of the ruined chapels.
In 1848 the Venerable Charles Thorp (Archdeacon of Durham 1831-62) restored the tower, introducing new windows, refitting the interior and erecting outbuildings on the south side.
Repairs to the tower were made in 1927-8 after the property had been vested in The National Trust. (3)
Leland, writing c.1838, stated that the tower was built by Thomas Castell, Prior of Durham (1494-1519). (4)
The tower is 13.5 yards in length and 8 yards in breadth and is entered by a low round headed doorway from the east. After the Dissolution is was used by the Government as a fort and in later times as a lighthouse. (5)
The tower is a plain strong structure built c.1500. It has much of the character of a Border pele with thick walls, a vaulted under storey, stone stairs and small and narrow doors and windows. Archdeacon Thorp has recently repaired the tower and enlarged the windows. (6)
Correctly described by authorities (3), (5) and (6). The walls, of rubble masonry with ashlar quoins and chamfered plinth course, are 1.4m-1.8m thick. There are two pointed and one round headed window in the west wall but all other windows have plain square heads. The building is in good condition and in use as a store and dwelling place for the custodians. (7)
Prior Castell's Tower. Grade I listed building. Tower house. Appears to contain earlier work than that for Robert Castell, Prior of Durham (1494-1519). (8)
The earlier work includes the small lancet windows on the stairs and the trefoiled piscina on the first floor. (9)
Scheduled. (10)
In summer 1998 the opportunity arose to make a detailed study of the Tower when a scheme of repairs was carried out which included re-pointing and re-roofing the building. Detailed plans were prepared and a series of elevation drawings were made, based on a photogrammetric survey which had been carried out some years previously. (11)
A well in the tower is a stone-lined cavity approached by steps. Although it is water-filled it could not be ascertained whether the water came from a spring or was merely the result of seepage. It has been suggested that this is the second of the wells associated with St Cuthbert. (12)
A programme of historic building recording, historical research and analysis was undertaken by Peter Ryder on the monastic cell on Inner Farne. The buildings were studied in detail during conversation work. The building survey looked at the main group of buildings focussed around a small courtyard between St Cuthbert's chapel on the north and the remains of St Mary's chapel on the south. The external elevations of St Cuthbert's chapel, the external elevations and sections of Prior Castell's Tower and various worked stones lying in and around the chapel were drawn as part of the survey. (13)
Tower house, built for Robert Castell, Prior of Durham between 1494-1519, but appearing to incorporate earlier work. Originally a 4-storey building, now 3-storeyed. Random rubble with chamfered plinth. Used as a fort between 1559 and 1637. Repaired in 1848 and 1927-8. Scheduled and listed Grade I. (14a)
Listed by King and Dodds. (14b-c)
N5889
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; E Geary
BUILDING SURVEY, Inner Farne 1999
FIELD SURVEY, National Trust survey: the Farne Islands 2010; Archaeo-Environment Ltd
BUILDING SURVEY, Inner Farne 1999
FIELD SURVEY, National Trust survey: the Farne Islands 2010; Archaeo-Environment Ltd
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.