A bastle or pele tower was first mention at Wark in 1399. A tower was next recorded in 1415. This was probably the same `fortress' mentioned in 1541, though a few years earlier it was recorded that no defences stood in Wark. In 1804 workmen clearing ground in front of a building in the village found the foundations of a large square building with thick stone walls. This may have been the remains of this tower. There are no remains to be seen here now.