Although medieval in appearance Hawthorn Tower was entirley 19th century. It was built in 1821 for Major Anderson of Newcastle by the architect John Dobson also of Newcastle. It was enlarged around 1850 by Thomas Moore of Sunderland. Originally the property ws called Hawthorn Hive Cottage. After 1856 the house came into the ownership of the Pemberton family of Low Barnes, Sunderland. The house was occupied until the second world war but soon after was abandoned and became ruinous.