Hirst Castle (Ashington)
(NZ 28178793) Hirst Castle (Site of). (1)
Pele. A strong old farmhouse with a small tower (a). North Hurst: two ancient piles. (b)(2)
The tower was probably built by Ralph the 3rd lord Ogle, died c.1513. On May 21, 1549 George Ogle was charged with the maintenance of the beacon on Hirst Tower head. Thomas Errington, died 1629, probably built the adjoining manor house, which was known as West House, in 1642. In 1746 a field named as Dovecot Close is mentioned in a will referring to the adjoining farm lands. The east wall is surmounted by a narrow oblong turret and this was probably the only part with battlements. The south front is mainly Jacobean. (3)
(NZ 28148788) Hurst Castle (Remains of). [Sites to the centre of a group of buildings to which the published name refers]. (4)
The OS siting of this antiquity has been corrected to conform with T4. No trace of the Tower or Manor House remains, the site being occupied by modern streets and dwelling houses. The 'Two Ancient Piles' referred to in T2(b) probably refer to the Tower and Manor House. (5)
No evidence of medieval buildings observed in garage foundation trenches dug in 1968; site covered by modern development. (6)
Hirst Castle (Low Hirst Tower), typical fortified manor or farmhouse. Tower demolished in early 20th century. No trace of medieval buildings seen when foundations for filling station were dug. (7)
According to Dodds, a tower was built for George Ogle, documented in a contract of 1536, and in 1549 he was charged to light a beacon on it when reivers were about. The tower was demolished in 1910. He also refers to the second tower (as authy.2) which Warburton attributed to one Johnson. Nothing is known of any Johnson owning or leasing property in this area.Listed by Cathcart King and by Dodds. (8a-b)
Pele. A strong old farmhouse with a small tower (a). North Hurst: two ancient piles. (b)(2)
The tower was probably built by Ralph the 3rd lord Ogle, died c.1513. On May 21, 1549 George Ogle was charged with the maintenance of the beacon on Hirst Tower head. Thomas Errington, died 1629, probably built the adjoining manor house, which was known as West House, in 1642. In 1746 a field named as Dovecot Close is mentioned in a will referring to the adjoining farm lands. The east wall is surmounted by a narrow oblong turret and this was probably the only part with battlements. The south front is mainly Jacobean. (3)
(NZ 28148788) Hurst Castle (Remains of). [Sites to the centre of a group of buildings to which the published name refers]. (4)
The OS siting of this antiquity has been corrected to conform with T4. No trace of the Tower or Manor House remains, the site being occupied by modern streets and dwelling houses. The 'Two Ancient Piles' referred to in T2(b) probably refer to the Tower and Manor House. (5)
No evidence of medieval buildings observed in garage foundation trenches dug in 1968; site covered by modern development. (6)
Hirst Castle (Low Hirst Tower), typical fortified manor or farmhouse. Tower demolished in early 20th century. No trace of medieval buildings seen when foundations for filling station were dug. (7)
According to Dodds, a tower was built for George Ogle, documented in a contract of 1536, and in 1549 he was charged to light a beacon on it when reivers were about. The tower was demolished in 1910. He also refers to the second tower (as authy.2) which Warburton attributed to one Johnson. Nothing is known of any Johnson owning or leasing property in this area.Listed by Cathcart King and by Dodds. (8a-b)
N11665
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; E Geary
WATCHING BRIEF, Hirst Castle Service Station, Ashington 1968; MOFFAT, C D
WATCHING BRIEF, Hirst Castle Service Station, Ashington 1968; MOFFAT, C D
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