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Islekirk Hall

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Hermitage of St Hilda, Ilekirk; Hildkirk

In the civil parish of Westward.
In the historic county of Cumberland.
Modern Authority of Cumbria.
1974 county of Cumbria.
Medieval County of Cumberland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY259445
Latitude 54.79017° Longitude -3.15321°

Islekirk Hall has been described as a Pele Tower although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

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

Description

Ilekirk (Hildkirk) Grange later called Hall, was first occupied by the Barwys family as early as 1529. It was formerly the hermitage of St. Hilda belonging to the monastery of that name (Swift).
Perriam and Robinson cite Swift, who noted an unpublished ballad which refers to a tower at Islekirk Hall. Nothing remains to suggest a tower, and there is no other antiquarian reference to one. (PastScape)
Comments

The evidence seems weak for a significant fortified residence here. The 'hermitage' may have been fairly substantial, since it was let to the Barwis family from 1529, who replaced it with a modest unfortified hall, possible sometime after they were granted it in 1544. A reference in a ballad may be artistic creation or refer to a chapel belfry. On the other hand, the 'hermitage' was a grange of Holm Cultram Abbey from 1216, and there was clearly something worth protecting here.
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:21:53

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