Thornton Tower (Newbrough and Fourstones)
(NY 87446836) Thornton Tower (Remains of). (1)
Thornton Tower, mentioned in 1542 and 1692, is described in 1840 as a ruin standing at the north-east corner of quadrangular farm buildings. Its walls now stand between 2.5m to 4.5m in height. GP AO/56/74/7 shows the north-west corner. (2)(3)
Condition unchanged. (4)
Thornton Tower. Mentioned in surveys of 1541 and 1560, when it and its barmkin were in decay. Remains stand to 20ft high. (5)
Thornton Tower, Grade II. Late medieval tower house. Within adjacent barn is a section of the outer face of the west wall of the tower. Remainder of ruin mainly rubble wall core. Rectangular plan. In corner of 19th century farmbuildings. Interior obscured by rubble and rubbish. (6)
Medieval tower house, remains of. Massive squared stone in west face. (7)
The ruined tower is set awkwardly at the north east corner of the group of farmbuildings, on a markedly different alignment to them; its north west wall has been utilised as the east end of the principal farmbuilding range on the north side of the foldyard, giving that part of the range an odd trapezoidal plan.
The remains are in a ruinous and overgrown condition. The north west wall stands to a round 6m high, with good squared stonework visible on its external face, where this has been preserved inside the farmbuilding; the internal face of the wall, largely obscured by trees growing against it, has been stripped back to the rubble core; no architectural features appear to survive. The north east wall is merely a low outcrop of rubble core; the south east wall is also
stripped back to its core, but stands to c.2m high; in its centre is the only visible feature of the ruin, a splayed loop; its external opening has gone but the internal splay, roofed by flat slabs,
survives, the opening being blocked c.1m back by rubble. The south west wall may survive but is inaccessible through farmbuildings being built against it.
The interior of the tower is now a rough and overgrown platform raised c.2m above the surrounding ground.
Whilst the remains of this tower are in poor condition, it seems likely that the internal walling of its basement may be fairly complete, if cleared of debris. (8)
First documented in 1542 when it was owned by Lord Burrowe. However, it may have been King Edward I's rest place during the summer of 1306. It was still extant in 1715 when the Earl of Derwentwater hid there. The ruins enclose an area 42 by 33 feet. (9a)
Thornton Tower, mentioned in 1542 and 1692, is described in 1840 as a ruin standing at the north-east corner of quadrangular farm buildings. Its walls now stand between 2.5m to 4.5m in height. GP AO/56/74/7 shows the north-west corner. (2)(3)
Condition unchanged. (4)
Thornton Tower. Mentioned in surveys of 1541 and 1560, when it and its barmkin were in decay. Remains stand to 20ft high. (5)
Thornton Tower, Grade II. Late medieval tower house. Within adjacent barn is a section of the outer face of the west wall of the tower. Remainder of ruin mainly rubble wall core. Rectangular plan. In corner of 19th century farmbuildings. Interior obscured by rubble and rubbish. (6)
Medieval tower house, remains of. Massive squared stone in west face. (7)
The ruined tower is set awkwardly at the north east corner of the group of farmbuildings, on a markedly different alignment to them; its north west wall has been utilised as the east end of the principal farmbuilding range on the north side of the foldyard, giving that part of the range an odd trapezoidal plan.
The remains are in a ruinous and overgrown condition. The north west wall stands to a round 6m high, with good squared stonework visible on its external face, where this has been preserved inside the farmbuilding; the internal face of the wall, largely obscured by trees growing against it, has been stripped back to the rubble core; no architectural features appear to survive. The north east wall is merely a low outcrop of rubble core; the south east wall is also
stripped back to its core, but stands to c.2m high; in its centre is the only visible feature of the ruin, a splayed loop; its external opening has gone but the internal splay, roofed by flat slabs,
survives, the opening being blocked c.1m back by rubble. The south west wall may survive but is inaccessible through farmbuildings being built against it.
The interior of the tower is now a rough and overgrown platform raised c.2m above the surrounding ground.
Whilst the remains of this tower are in poor condition, it seems likely that the internal walling of its basement may be fairly complete, if cleared of debris. (8)
First documented in 1542 when it was owned by Lord Burrowe. However, it may have been King Edward I's rest place during the summer of 1306. It was still extant in 1715 when the Earl of Derwentwater hid there. The ruins enclose an area 42 by 33 feet. (9a)
N7600
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1965; R Lewis
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1965; R Lewis
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
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