Preston Tower (Ellingham)
Preston Tower (Copyright © Don Brownlow)
(NU 18362542) Tower. (1)
Mentioned in a list of 1415, the tower was originally a long building with turrets at the four angles. All that now remains is the south front with the south east and south west turrets and portions of the side walls running north from these. (2)
As described above. See photograph. (3)
Part of a tower house. 14th century, restored 1864. The remains include the south wall and two southern corner turrets of a larger hall-type tower house with four towers. (4)
Preston Tower stands amongst lawns to the north west of the early 19th century house of the same name. Listed as fortalice in 1415, it would appear to have been an upper floor hall house of 14th century type, with a small tower or turret at each corner. What remains is the south end, with its two turrets. Prior to restoration by Henry Baker Cresswell in 1864 it was a ruin incorporated in a complex of farmbuildings. The present north wall and battlements are of 1864.
The surviving section of the building is of coursed sandstone blocks of near ashlar quality; the 19th century parts are of rough faced stone. The overall width, including the towers, is 12m. The windows are all chamfered square headed loops. At second floor level there is a large ashlar panel with a clock face on both north and south fronts (that on the north with the date 1864, that on the south with the initials HR and BC). The battlements and the smaller turret attached to the south east tower are all of 19th century date.
At basement level the south wall, pierced by a chamfered square headed doorway of uncertain post-medieval date, is 2.05m thick. The springing of an east-west vault (the basement of the main block was presumably divided into a number of chambers with transverse vaults) is visible. In the south west tower is a chamber with a pointed tunnel vault, aligned north-south; in the south east tower a similar chamber is aligned east-west. The chamber in the south west tower has a doorway (blocked, with a small window in the vaulting) in the external west wall. This has a pointed arch of medieval character, although all its dressings are restoration. Similar pointed archways give access to both chambers from the main basement. All have the 14th century characteristic of heads cut from a pair of angled slabs. The north wall, set between buttresses fashioned from the stubs of the side walls of the main block is entirely 19th century.
A recent timber stair gives access to the first floor, where there are again traces of a cut-away vault aligned north-south. There are a similar pair of chambers in the towers, this time each provided with wall cupboards, a slopstone and a square headed fireplace with a chamfered surround.
At second floor level there is no sign of any vault. In the south wall is a large blocked window with a segmental rear arch. its outer opening being concealed by an 1864 clock face. At this level there is a chamber in the south west tower entered via a small lobby and provided with a wall cupboard and a fireplace. The chamber in the south east tower, housing a water tank, is not accessible. The timber stair continues to give access to the roof, where there are chamfered square headed doorways into both towers. The south east tower has another chamber (with a wall cupboard) with a recent concrete roof and the interior of the south west tower is occupied by a stair to its roof and the bell for the 1864 clock. (5)
NU 183255. Preston Tower. Scheduled. (6a)
NU 183 255. Preston Tower. Scheduled No ND/27. (6b)
Preston Tower was built between 1392-9 by Robert Harbottle. (6c-d)
Mentioned in a list of 1415, the tower was originally a long building with turrets at the four angles. All that now remains is the south front with the south east and south west turrets and portions of the side walls running north from these. (2)
As described above. See photograph. (3)
Part of a tower house. 14th century, restored 1864. The remains include the south wall and two southern corner turrets of a larger hall-type tower house with four towers. (4)
Preston Tower stands amongst lawns to the north west of the early 19th century house of the same name. Listed as fortalice in 1415, it would appear to have been an upper floor hall house of 14th century type, with a small tower or turret at each corner. What remains is the south end, with its two turrets. Prior to restoration by Henry Baker Cresswell in 1864 it was a ruin incorporated in a complex of farmbuildings. The present north wall and battlements are of 1864.
The surviving section of the building is of coursed sandstone blocks of near ashlar quality; the 19th century parts are of rough faced stone. The overall width, including the towers, is 12m. The windows are all chamfered square headed loops. At second floor level there is a large ashlar panel with a clock face on both north and south fronts (that on the north with the date 1864, that on the south with the initials HR and BC). The battlements and the smaller turret attached to the south east tower are all of 19th century date.
At basement level the south wall, pierced by a chamfered square headed doorway of uncertain post-medieval date, is 2.05m thick. The springing of an east-west vault (the basement of the main block was presumably divided into a number of chambers with transverse vaults) is visible. In the south west tower is a chamber with a pointed tunnel vault, aligned north-south; in the south east tower a similar chamber is aligned east-west. The chamber in the south west tower has a doorway (blocked, with a small window in the vaulting) in the external west wall. This has a pointed arch of medieval character, although all its dressings are restoration. Similar pointed archways give access to both chambers from the main basement. All have the 14th century characteristic of heads cut from a pair of angled slabs. The north wall, set between buttresses fashioned from the stubs of the side walls of the main block is entirely 19th century.
A recent timber stair gives access to the first floor, where there are again traces of a cut-away vault aligned north-south. There are a similar pair of chambers in the towers, this time each provided with wall cupboards, a slopstone and a square headed fireplace with a chamfered surround.
At second floor level there is no sign of any vault. In the south wall is a large blocked window with a segmental rear arch. its outer opening being concealed by an 1864 clock face. At this level there is a chamber in the south west tower entered via a small lobby and provided with a wall cupboard and a fireplace. The chamber in the south east tower, housing a water tank, is not accessible. The timber stair continues to give access to the roof, where there are chamfered square headed doorways into both towers. The south east tower has another chamber (with a wall cupboard) with a recent concrete roof and the interior of the south west tower is occupied by a stair to its roof and the bell for the 1864 clock. (5)
NU 183255. Preston Tower. Scheduled. (6a)
NU 183 255. Preston Tower. Scheduled No ND/27. (6b)
Preston Tower was built between 1392-9 by Robert Harbottle. (6c-d)
N4966
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; B H Pritchard
Disclaimer -
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.