Dilston Castle (Corbridge)
[NY 97566328] Dilston Castle (Remains of). (1)
The tower of Dilston formed the nucleus of a later mansion, and is first mentioned in 1464. It is probably the work of Sir William Claxton who succeeded to Dilston in 1417.
Sir George Radcliffe (1545-1588) built a four-storeyed extension on the northern end of the tower. Other alterations also affected the tower and combined to give the whole building an Elizabethan character.
A typical Jacobean extension was made in 1622 by Sir Francis Radcliffe. Nothing of this building survives. He also enclosed the forecourt on the south side by an arched entrance gate, having a chapel [NY 96 SE 4] on its west side.
In 1710, the third Earl of Derwentwater pulled down the Elizabethan-Jacobean house and began a new mansion on its site. It was never completed.
After the Rebellion of 1715 the property passed to Greenwich Hospital. In 1765 the Earl's mansion was demolished, the only remaining traces being two large square windows in the east wall of the tower. (2)
The tower of Dilston, although lacking documentary evidence must be attributed to the 15th century. (3)
Over the gateway, near the chapel is a stone inscribed 'FR- 1616-IR', the initials of Sir Francis Radcliffe and his wife Isobel. [See Illustrations Card]. (4)
The only remains of Dilston Castle, are the 15th century keep, and the later north and south additions, which now constitute a single block. The building has been renovated, and although ruinous, the walls are well-preserved.
The Gateway at NY 97596326 is a plain arch; it carries the Radcliffe inscription as described (4). (5)
Condition unchanged. (6)
Grade I. Dilston Castle Tower-house of cream freestone, now a shell, walls up to 3 storeys high, with Elizabethan 'cross' windows with labels, and fireplaces. Rectangular plan. Entrance tower has 4 storeys of 2-light windows, and round turret on corbels in angle. A.M. (7)
No trace of 13th century manor house. Tower measures 38ft 9ins by 23ft 3ins. Additional 13ft 2ins x 18ft 4ins projected at south end. The tower was incorporated in a later mansion which has almost disappeared, and the tower is in ruin.
In 1805 commissioners of Greenwich Hospital opened the vault at Dilston and found the Earl of Derwentwater's body and head which had been embalmed. Derwentwater was a follower of the Pretender James Stewart. (8)
Dilston Castle is set on an escarpment above the Devil's Water and faces north-east. The manor is reputed to have been owned by the Divelston family from the 13th century. However, there is no surviving visible evidence of any building dating to this period.
Sir William Claxton acquired the manor in 1417. The surviving evidence indicates that the Claxton family built a three storeyed tower-house of coursed sandstone construction in the early to mid 15th century. The accommodation comprised two unheated barrel vaulted ground floor rooms. The larger of the two retains two keyhole gun-loops. Both the first and second floors were originally heated. However, it is unclear if either of the two upper floors comprised a single chamber or were originally sub-divided as subsequent alterations have obscured the original layout. It is likely that there was a wall-walk above at parapet level. The surviving evidence suggests that the tower was originally free-standing and possibly was situated within a defended enclosure - of which there is visible surviving evidence. The tower probably provided the principal accommodation for the Claxtons.
Later in the 15th century a small three storeyed turret was built on to the east gable of the original tower. The ground floor of this comprised a barrel vaulted room provided with a key-hole gun-loop of a refined design. It appears likely that this room could also have functioned as a prison. An intermural flight of stairs, on the east side of this room, provides access to the first floor. A single heated chamber occupied each of the two upper floors.
During the late 15th century ownership of the estate passed to the Radcliffe family. In the mid to late 16th century the tower was remodelled and most of the present fireplaces on the first and second floors were inserted. At this time a two storeyed range of domestic rooms was built on to the west side of the tower - most of which has been subsequently demolished.
In the first quarter of the 17th century the late medieval fabric was remodelled and joined to a three storeyed domestic range (now demolished) that was built on to the north-west of the original tower. This comprised the new principal domestic accommodation and presumably the original tower was relegated to secondary accommodation. The only surviving features relating to this period are the closed well stair tower at the west end of the north wall of the tower. This stair tower has a corbelled out turret at parapet level built in the north-east angle between the new staircase and the north wall of the original tower. The nearby chapel and gateway (dated 1616) were part of the 17th century building work.
In the early 18th century a new house was planned around the tower by the 3rd Earl of Derwentwater. It is unclear how much of the planned work was carried out before his involvement in the 1715 Jacobite rebellion and subsequent execution. After the death of the 3rd Earl's son in 1731 the estates of the Derwentwaters were seized by the Crown and Dilston was granted to the Greenwich Hospital Trustees. They were responsible for the demolition of most of the buildings on the site. At the time of survey the building was ruinous. (9)
Additional description by P Ryder, basically as above. (10)
Some 25 samples were obtained from the chapel and tower house in 2003 for tree-ring analysis. Results produced a single site chronology comprising 21 samples with a combined overall length of 210 rings. This site chronology was dated as spanning the years AD1402 to AD1611. Interpretation of the sapwood indicates that probably all the dated timbers represented were felled in AD1611 and relate to documented remodelling in AD1616. There is no confirmed tree-ring evidence for any earlier or later material. (11)
A programme of archaeological recording in 2003 has discovered more about the development of the castle from medieval manorial site through to the palatial Queen Ann mansion of the Earl of Derwentwater. From the evidence gathered during conservation work it was possible to construct a detailed structural sequence for the castle from the early 15th century to the present day. The extent of the Victorian and Edwardian repairs and rebuild carried out by Lord Allendale proved to encompass large scale rebuilding and demolition turning the tower house into the picturesque ruin of today.
Trial trenching to the east of Dilston Castle in 2003 confirmed the location of the Jacobean hall and provided a better understanding of the levels of survival, with the central range of the hall surviving to a couple of courses. Other trenches showed the great eastern range constructed in 1712-14 had been totally destroyed and all all traces removed.(12)
Dilston Castle. Grade I. Towerhouse, probably built by Sir William Claxton in early C15, enlarged later C15, and C16 by Radcliffes (later Earls of Derwentwater); remodelled c.1620 as part of Dilston Hall, altered when Hall was rebuilt 1710-15. Squared stone with dressings; roofless. L-plan. Foundations rmoved 1881 may have been of earlier medieval castle of Divelstons.
Listed. See an online version of the designated record for Dilston Castle on the National Heritage List for England. (13a-b)
NY 976 633. Dilston Castle. Scheduled No ND/97.
Scheduled. See an online version of the designated record for Dilston Castle on the National Heritage List for England. (13c-d)
Listed by Cathcart King and Dodds. (13e-f)
This website of the Friends of Historic Dilston has a good description of the castle and its surroundings. It also has information on archaeological work carried out by the society and guided visits. (13g)
This site includes a number of photographs of Dilston Castle. (13h)
The tower of Dilston formed the nucleus of a later mansion, and is first mentioned in 1464. It is probably the work of Sir William Claxton who succeeded to Dilston in 1417.
Sir George Radcliffe (1545-1588) built a four-storeyed extension on the northern end of the tower. Other alterations also affected the tower and combined to give the whole building an Elizabethan character.
A typical Jacobean extension was made in 1622 by Sir Francis Radcliffe. Nothing of this building survives. He also enclosed the forecourt on the south side by an arched entrance gate, having a chapel [NY 96 SE 4] on its west side.
In 1710, the third Earl of Derwentwater pulled down the Elizabethan-Jacobean house and began a new mansion on its site. It was never completed.
After the Rebellion of 1715 the property passed to Greenwich Hospital. In 1765 the Earl's mansion was demolished, the only remaining traces being two large square windows in the east wall of the tower. (2)
The tower of Dilston, although lacking documentary evidence must be attributed to the 15th century. (3)
Over the gateway, near the chapel is a stone inscribed 'FR- 1616-IR', the initials of Sir Francis Radcliffe and his wife Isobel. [See Illustrations Card]. (4)
The only remains of Dilston Castle, are the 15th century keep, and the later north and south additions, which now constitute a single block. The building has been renovated, and although ruinous, the walls are well-preserved.
The Gateway at NY 97596326 is a plain arch; it carries the Radcliffe inscription as described (4). (5)
Condition unchanged. (6)
Grade I. Dilston Castle Tower-house of cream freestone, now a shell, walls up to 3 storeys high, with Elizabethan 'cross' windows with labels, and fireplaces. Rectangular plan. Entrance tower has 4 storeys of 2-light windows, and round turret on corbels in angle. A.M. (7)
No trace of 13th century manor house. Tower measures 38ft 9ins by 23ft 3ins. Additional 13ft 2ins x 18ft 4ins projected at south end. The tower was incorporated in a later mansion which has almost disappeared, and the tower is in ruin.
In 1805 commissioners of Greenwich Hospital opened the vault at Dilston and found the Earl of Derwentwater's body and head which had been embalmed. Derwentwater was a follower of the Pretender James Stewart. (8)
Dilston Castle is set on an escarpment above the Devil's Water and faces north-east. The manor is reputed to have been owned by the Divelston family from the 13th century. However, there is no surviving visible evidence of any building dating to this period.
Sir William Claxton acquired the manor in 1417. The surviving evidence indicates that the Claxton family built a three storeyed tower-house of coursed sandstone construction in the early to mid 15th century. The accommodation comprised two unheated barrel vaulted ground floor rooms. The larger of the two retains two keyhole gun-loops. Both the first and second floors were originally heated. However, it is unclear if either of the two upper floors comprised a single chamber or were originally sub-divided as subsequent alterations have obscured the original layout. It is likely that there was a wall-walk above at parapet level. The surviving evidence suggests that the tower was originally free-standing and possibly was situated within a defended enclosure - of which there is visible surviving evidence. The tower probably provided the principal accommodation for the Claxtons.
Later in the 15th century a small three storeyed turret was built on to the east gable of the original tower. The ground floor of this comprised a barrel vaulted room provided with a key-hole gun-loop of a refined design. It appears likely that this room could also have functioned as a prison. An intermural flight of stairs, on the east side of this room, provides access to the first floor. A single heated chamber occupied each of the two upper floors.
During the late 15th century ownership of the estate passed to the Radcliffe family. In the mid to late 16th century the tower was remodelled and most of the present fireplaces on the first and second floors were inserted. At this time a two storeyed range of domestic rooms was built on to the west side of the tower - most of which has been subsequently demolished.
In the first quarter of the 17th century the late medieval fabric was remodelled and joined to a three storeyed domestic range (now demolished) that was built on to the north-west of the original tower. This comprised the new principal domestic accommodation and presumably the original tower was relegated to secondary accommodation. The only surviving features relating to this period are the closed well stair tower at the west end of the north wall of the tower. This stair tower has a corbelled out turret at parapet level built in the north-east angle between the new staircase and the north wall of the original tower. The nearby chapel and gateway (dated 1616) were part of the 17th century building work.
In the early 18th century a new house was planned around the tower by the 3rd Earl of Derwentwater. It is unclear how much of the planned work was carried out before his involvement in the 1715 Jacobite rebellion and subsequent execution. After the death of the 3rd Earl's son in 1731 the estates of the Derwentwaters were seized by the Crown and Dilston was granted to the Greenwich Hospital Trustees. They were responsible for the demolition of most of the buildings on the site. At the time of survey the building was ruinous. (9)
Additional description by P Ryder, basically as above. (10)
Some 25 samples were obtained from the chapel and tower house in 2003 for tree-ring analysis. Results produced a single site chronology comprising 21 samples with a combined overall length of 210 rings. This site chronology was dated as spanning the years AD1402 to AD1611. Interpretation of the sapwood indicates that probably all the dated timbers represented were felled in AD1611 and relate to documented remodelling in AD1616. There is no confirmed tree-ring evidence for any earlier or later material. (11)
A programme of archaeological recording in 2003 has discovered more about the development of the castle from medieval manorial site through to the palatial Queen Ann mansion of the Earl of Derwentwater. From the evidence gathered during conservation work it was possible to construct a detailed structural sequence for the castle from the early 15th century to the present day. The extent of the Victorian and Edwardian repairs and rebuild carried out by Lord Allendale proved to encompass large scale rebuilding and demolition turning the tower house into the picturesque ruin of today.
Trial trenching to the east of Dilston Castle in 2003 confirmed the location of the Jacobean hall and provided a better understanding of the levels of survival, with the central range of the hall surviving to a couple of courses. Other trenches showed the great eastern range constructed in 1712-14 had been totally destroyed and all all traces removed.(12)
Dilston Castle. Grade I. Towerhouse, probably built by Sir William Claxton in early C15, enlarged later C15, and C16 by Radcliffes (later Earls of Derwentwater); remodelled c.1620 as part of Dilston Hall, altered when Hall was rebuilt 1710-15. Squared stone with dressings; roofless. L-plan. Foundations rmoved 1881 may have been of earlier medieval castle of Divelstons.
Listed. See an online version of the designated record for Dilston Castle on the National Heritage List for England. (13a-b)
NY 976 633. Dilston Castle. Scheduled No ND/97.
Scheduled. See an online version of the designated record for Dilston Castle on the National Heritage List for England. (13c-d)
Listed by Cathcart King and Dodds. (13e-f)
This website of the Friends of Historic Dilston has a good description of the castle and its surroundings. It also has information on archaeological work carried out by the society and guided visits. (13g)
This site includes a number of photographs of Dilston Castle. (13h)
N8985
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; J L Davidson
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R Lewis
BUILDING SURVEY, DILSTON CASTLE, DILSTON, NEAR CORBIDGE 1994; RCHME
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Dilston Castle 2002; North Pennines Heritage Trust
WATCHING BRIEF, Dilston Castle 2003; North Pennines Heritage Trust
TIMBER SAMPLING, DILSTON CASTLE, DILSTON HALL 2003; Centre for Archaeology
RECTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Dilston Castle 2003; Field Archaeology Specialists of York
TRIAL TRENCH, Dilston Castle 2003; North Pennines Heritage Trust
ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY, Investigation by RCHME/EH Architectural Survey ; RCHME
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R Lewis
BUILDING SURVEY, DILSTON CASTLE, DILSTON, NEAR CORBIDGE 1994; RCHME
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Dilston Castle 2002; North Pennines Heritage Trust
WATCHING BRIEF, Dilston Castle 2003; North Pennines Heritage Trust
TIMBER SAMPLING, DILSTON CASTLE, DILSTON HALL 2003; Centre for Archaeology
RECTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Dilston Castle 2003; Field Archaeology Specialists of York
TRIAL TRENCH, Dilston Castle 2003; North Pennines Heritage Trust
ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY, Investigation by RCHME/EH Architectural Survey ; RCHME
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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.