Morrelhirst bastle (Rothley with Hollinghill)
Remains of a bastle at Morrelhirst, Hollinghill. Photo by Peter Ryder.
The tower is known to have been at the Hurst. (?Morrelhirst - NZ 05859603). In a description of Rothbury Forest a century ago (c.1803) the so-called Forest was stated to be dotted over with 'Bastile buildings'. Not one of these strong houses remains at the present day. (1)
NZ 05789594. The present buildings at Morrelhirst are quite modern, but 100m south west of the farmhouse and on the south bank of the Forest Burn are the foundations of a rectangular building. The dimensions are similar to the defended houses common in the region and which date from the late 16th/early 17th century.
The foundation, which is oriented north west-south east is of a building measuring 11m x 7m. The north east wall, which is the most complete, is 1.2m thick with a maximum height of 0.6m and incorporates some fairly large stones. A gap in the north west wall was possibly the entrance.
To the south east of the foundation the ground is disturbed with fragmentary banks visible in places, possibly indicating the sites of ancillary buildings or garths.
The low sheltered siting was possibly intended for concealment rather than defence.
Local enquiries revealed no significant field names. There is a local tradition that the foundation is that of a mill but there are no traces of a mill race or pond and the siting is generally unsuitable for such a feature. (2)
No change. No further information. (3)
The remains of a probable bastle lie on the south bank of the Forest Burn, close to the junction with the Spylaw Burn. The grassed over ruin is of a rectangular building c.8.2m by 4.2m internally. The walls are now grassy humps except for the north east, which stands a course or two high and is 1.2m thick. A gap in the centre of the north west end may indicate the byre entrance. There are traces of a possible extension, c.6m long internally, at the south east end.
The site is rather odd for a bastle, lying low and sheltered, on an island of land between the stream and a narrow strip of marshland at the foot of a steep slope. On a broader expanse of more level ground to the south east are some more pronounced, but irregular earthworks. It is not clear whether these represent the remains of other buildings and enclosures or are associated with the 19th century diversion of the Spylaw Burn when the railway was built. (4)
Scheduled. (5)
A level 3 analytical survey of the earthworks at Morrelhirst was carried out in October-November 2015, combined with an assessment of evidence from aerial photography. The bastle, which occupies a sheltered position along the Linn Kern, is considered to be a small example of the architectural type, measuring c 11.2 x 6.8m. The earthwork remains of two further structures, one rectangular and one square located to the south east of the bastle, were identified as part of the survey. A possible hollow way between these structures was also identified. It is likely that the larger rectangular structure, which has a similar orientation, was contemporary to the bastle. Two buildings are depicted in this location on a map of the barony of Rothbury, dated 1622, held in the archives of the Duke of Northumberland's estate, at Alnwick Castle. Much of this second building is masked by later spoil heaps, created when the course of the Blue Burn was straightened as part of the construction of the railway c 1870 (HOB UID 1376354). As Authority 2 states, the track from the current farmhouse to the agricultural land is referred to as 'Old Mill Lane' throughout the records in the mid to late 19th Century. The mill itself, or at least the redundant remains of it, may have been swept away when the course of the Burn Burn was altered to suit the construction of the railway embankment. The new course of the burn, running close to the bastle farmstead, may have followed and enlarged that of the earlier mill leat. There is evidence for medieval ploughing (ridge and furrow) within the loop of the Blue Burn immediately west of the bastle, suggesting an earlier settlement in the vicinity, as well as later, post-medieval ploughing perhaps contemporary with the bastle itself. Adjacent field boundaries and pens, some imposed on the earlier cultivation pattern, may reflect a pastoral focus associated with the bastle. (6)
Documented as spoilt in 1569. Listed by Dodds. (7a)
NZ 05789594. The present buildings at Morrelhirst are quite modern, but 100m south west of the farmhouse and on the south bank of the Forest Burn are the foundations of a rectangular building. The dimensions are similar to the defended houses common in the region and which date from the late 16th/early 17th century.
The foundation, which is oriented north west-south east is of a building measuring 11m x 7m. The north east wall, which is the most complete, is 1.2m thick with a maximum height of 0.6m and incorporates some fairly large stones. A gap in the north west wall was possibly the entrance.
To the south east of the foundation the ground is disturbed with fragmentary banks visible in places, possibly indicating the sites of ancillary buildings or garths.
The low sheltered siting was possibly intended for concealment rather than defence.
Local enquiries revealed no significant field names. There is a local tradition that the foundation is that of a mill but there are no traces of a mill race or pond and the siting is generally unsuitable for such a feature. (2)
No change. No further information. (3)
The remains of a probable bastle lie on the south bank of the Forest Burn, close to the junction with the Spylaw Burn. The grassed over ruin is of a rectangular building c.8.2m by 4.2m internally. The walls are now grassy humps except for the north east, which stands a course or two high and is 1.2m thick. A gap in the centre of the north west end may indicate the byre entrance. There are traces of a possible extension, c.6m long internally, at the south east end.
The site is rather odd for a bastle, lying low and sheltered, on an island of land between the stream and a narrow strip of marshland at the foot of a steep slope. On a broader expanse of more level ground to the south east are some more pronounced, but irregular earthworks. It is not clear whether these represent the remains of other buildings and enclosures or are associated with the 19th century diversion of the Spylaw Burn when the railway was built. (4)
Scheduled. (5)
A level 3 analytical survey of the earthworks at Morrelhirst was carried out in October-November 2015, combined with an assessment of evidence from aerial photography. The bastle, which occupies a sheltered position along the Linn Kern, is considered to be a small example of the architectural type, measuring c 11.2 x 6.8m. The earthwork remains of two further structures, one rectangular and one square located to the south east of the bastle, were identified as part of the survey. A possible hollow way between these structures was also identified. It is likely that the larger rectangular structure, which has a similar orientation, was contemporary to the bastle. Two buildings are depicted in this location on a map of the barony of Rothbury, dated 1622, held in the archives of the Duke of Northumberland's estate, at Alnwick Castle. Much of this second building is masked by later spoil heaps, created when the course of the Blue Burn was straightened as part of the construction of the railway c 1870 (HOB UID 1376354). As Authority 2 states, the track from the current farmhouse to the agricultural land is referred to as 'Old Mill Lane' throughout the records in the mid to late 19th Century. The mill itself, or at least the redundant remains of it, may have been swept away when the course of the Burn Burn was altered to suit the construction of the railway embankment. The new course of the burn, running close to the bastle farmstead, may have followed and enlarged that of the earlier mill leat. There is evidence for medieval ploughing (ridge and furrow) within the loop of the Blue Burn immediately west of the bastle, suggesting an earlier settlement in the vicinity, as well as later, post-medieval ploughing perhaps contemporary with the bastle itself. Adjacent field boundaries and pens, some imposed on the earlier cultivation pattern, may reflect a pastoral focus associated with the bastle. (6)
Documented as spoilt in 1569. Listed by Dodds. (7a)
N10735
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; E Geary
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
ANALYTICAL EARTHWORK SURVEY, Morrelhirst Bastle: Landscape Assessment 2015; Historic England
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Morrelhirst Bastle: Landscape Assessment 2015; Historic England
THEMATIC SURVEY, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland 1995; P RYDER
ANALYTICAL EARTHWORK SURVEY, Morrelhirst Bastle: Landscape Assessment 2015; Historic England
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Morrelhirst Bastle: Landscape Assessment 2015; Historic England
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