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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Fenwick Tower, Matfen

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Fenwyk; ffenwicke

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

OS Map Grid Reference: NZ05747291
Latitude 55.05039° Longitude -1.91160°

Fenwick Tower, Matfen has been described as a probable Fortified Manor House, and also as a certain Pele Tower.

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains.

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law*.

Description

Fenwick Tower was first mentioned in the mid-12th century, and it was fortified in 1378. The tower was sold to the Blackett family in 1659. All that remains of the tower are the lower part of the west wall and a section of the south wall, now built into the modern farmhouse. The walls are 2m thick and made of stone blocks. The basement is covered by a stone vault. The later farmhouse was probably built in C17, though the front is of early C19 date. The tower was probably mainly demolished in 1775, when a hoard of 226 medieval gold coins was found. (Keys to the Past)

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1378 Nov 26 (Click on the date for details of this licence.).

Comments

Fortified manor said to have covered 'a considerable space, and possessing certainly more than one tower.'
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.
This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:20:10

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