Bellister Castle, Featherstone. Photo by Peter Ryder.

[NY 70066297] Bellister Castle [G.T.] (Remains of). (1)

The ruin of a square tower or 'bastelhouse', mentioned in 1471, and a survey of 1541, attached to the NW end of a house with a date-stone 1669. It was defended by a moat which is traceable on all but the south east side. (2)(3)(4)

Scheduled (uninhabited parts). (5)

The tower is a roofless shell, and in poor condition. It adjoins a 19th century 'pseudo' castellated house incorporating a revised 17th century datestone (a) all of which stand on an artificial mound. Remains of the moat are slight, and apparent on the south and west sides only. Published survey (25 inch). (6)

No change. Survey checked and transferred to MSD. (7)

Grade I. Bellister Castle 17th century stone house built into ruins of an older castle on a mound, very picturesque on a small scale. Three-storeyed house of centre block and flanking towers, castellated and of symmetrical arrangement, with old ornamented doorway, two 2-light windows on ground floor, one single and two 3-light windows on first floor and three single lights on top floor. Two oriel windows on garden front elaborately carved, with a tower/porch between. Sandstone ruins of square keep at one end. A re-used stone dated 16-7 (Pevsner dates it 1669). John Dobson worked here 1826. (8)

Ruined tower house and adjoining occupied house. Ruined section possibly a 13th century hall-house with 14th century (solar?) tower on west; altered c.1600. (9)

Bellister Bastle or Castle, [details as above]. Called a bastle in 1541. (10)

Detailed description. (11)

Scheduled. (12)

Excavations in 2017. (13)

Bellister Castle (formerly listed in the Civil Parish of Bellister).
Grade I. Ruined tower house and adjoining occupied house. Ruined section possibly a C13 hall-house with C14 (possibly solar) tower on west; altered c.1600. Occupied house dated 1669 but possibly incorporating medieval fabric in lower courses; major alterations c.1826 by John Dobson and c.1890; partly rebuilt c.1901-5 following an extensive fire. Tower coursed rubble with dressings; roofless. House squared and snecked sandstone, roofs not visible. L-plan medieval range with U-plan occupied house on east end. Castellated style house. See List for full account. (14a)

NY 701 629. Bellister Castle (uninhabited parts). Scheduled No ND/381. (14b)

Listed by Cathcart King and Dodds. (14c-d)

The moat and artificial mound described above were seen as earthworks on air photographs. The moat could only be traced on the north, west and south sides, the east side was covered in trees. (14e)