Townfoot Farm, East Woodburn (Corsenside)
(NY 90438683) Peel (Site of). (1)
Site of an ancient tower. (2)
No trace of a peel now exists. The site is occupied by a modern road and sheepfold. (3)
Townfoot Farm stands c.300m east of East Woodburn. The buildings are grouped around a small yard, opening to the east. The farmhouse itself looks of early 19th century date, but at its west end is a lower building incorporating the lower part of the west end of a bastle, 6.5m wide and 0.8m thick. The walling is of rubble with large irregular quoins. The central doorway is square headed, the north jamb is chamfered, and the upper part of the south, but the lower section of the south jamb is formed by a quite spectacular Roman altar; a slot in the wall on the south side of the altar seems to be a relatively recent modification, to allow a closer examination of it. Internally the altar projects rather awkwardly from the jamb. The lintel of the doorway is left unchamfered; internally it has a cut rebate for the door, and a harr socket against the south jamb. A pair of sockets above and to either side of the internal face of the doorway may relate either to ceiling timbers, or perhaps to former corbels for a hearth.
The remainder of the bastle appears to have been completely rebuilt, although a large projecting block at the foot of the south east corner hints that the present building may be on old footings.
On the opposite (south) side of the yard is a single storey range of buildings; one of the blocks of the north east quoin has a circular socket and is perhaps reused from another harr hung doorway.
The remains of the Townfoot bastle are fragmentary, but the Roman altar is of considerable importance (see NY 98 NW 1). (4)
Townfoot Farmhouse and attached farm buildings and cottages. Grade II listed buildings. Early 19th century with older core. (5)
The description of authy. 4 places the pele at NY90148677, which is the site of the vicarage. (6a)
Additional reference (6b)
Site of an ancient tower. (2)
No trace of a peel now exists. The site is occupied by a modern road and sheepfold. (3)
Townfoot Farm stands c.300m east of East Woodburn. The buildings are grouped around a small yard, opening to the east. The farmhouse itself looks of early 19th century date, but at its west end is a lower building incorporating the lower part of the west end of a bastle, 6.5m wide and 0.8m thick. The walling is of rubble with large irregular quoins. The central doorway is square headed, the north jamb is chamfered, and the upper part of the south, but the lower section of the south jamb is formed by a quite spectacular Roman altar; a slot in the wall on the south side of the altar seems to be a relatively recent modification, to allow a closer examination of it. Internally the altar projects rather awkwardly from the jamb. The lintel of the doorway is left unchamfered; internally it has a cut rebate for the door, and a harr socket against the south jamb. A pair of sockets above and to either side of the internal face of the doorway may relate either to ceiling timbers, or perhaps to former corbels for a hearth.
The remainder of the bastle appears to have been completely rebuilt, although a large projecting block at the foot of the south east corner hints that the present building may be on old footings.
On the opposite (south) side of the yard is a single storey range of buildings; one of the blocks of the north east quoin has a circular socket and is perhaps reused from another harr hung doorway.
The remains of the Townfoot bastle are fragmentary, but the Roman altar is of considerable importance (see NY 98 NW 1). (4)
Townfoot Farmhouse and attached farm buildings and cottages. Grade II listed buildings. Early 19th century with older core. (5)
The description of authy. 4 places the pele at NY90148677, which is the site of the vicarage. (6a)
Additional reference (6b)
N9369
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; D Smith
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Green Rigg Wind Farm 2006; Northern Archaeological Associates
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Green Rigg Wind Farm 2006; Northern Archaeological Associates
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