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Haltwhistle Old Tower

In the civil parish of Haltwhistle.
In the historic county of Northumberland.
Modern Authority of Northumberland.
1974 county of Northumberland.
Medieval County of Northumberland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY71236423
Latitude 54.97179° Longitude -2.45084°

Haltwhistle Old Tower has been described as a certain Bastle, and also as a Pele Tower although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

East of the town centre, to the rear of Castle Hill, another post-medieval defensible house was demolished in 1963; it was formerly a scheduled monument (SAM 281). Although frequently referred to as a "pele tower it would be more suitably classified as a "strong house , like the tower at the core of the Centre of Britain Hotel, rather superior to the usual bastles. The three-storeyed block, which retained its original gabled roof, was though to have been built between 1607 and 1611, with a two-storey wing added to the east end; various alterations were carried out c.1680 (Campbell and Dixon 1970, 169-78). (Northumberland Extensive Urban Survey)

NY 71206422 The old pele tower at Haltwhistle, at the rear of Castle Hill, is a plain-looking building with a loop-holed turret built on corbels. It was mentioned in 1416, and described in 1542 (Hodgson 1840).
Formerly at NY 71236423, and demolished in 1965. There are no visible remains (F1 RWE 07-JUL-66).
The fortified house was not built until 1607-11, when Albany Featherstonehaugh and his wife had it constructed. Originally a three-storeyed building, 26 by 21 feet with walls varying between 3 and 5 feet in thickness. Similar in construction to the fortified house built at Melkridge. A twisting staircase connected the ground and first floors. The second floor was reached by ladder, and was the bedroom and main defensible floor equipped with a small turret with loops. A wing was added to the eastern gable, and in 1680 the ground floor was converted to a kitchen. It was reroofed in the 1870's. When the flags were removed, they were found to rest on oak beams fastened by sheep shank bones. Demolished in 1963 (Campbell and Dixon 1970). (PastScape)
Comments

Sometimes suggested as the Musgrove Tower recorded in 1415 and 1541 although this seems unlikely.
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:21:28

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