Harbybrow Tower

Has been described as a Certain Pele Tower

There are major building remains

NameHarbybrow Tower
Alternative NamesHarby Brow; Hardy Brow; Leesgill; Leesrigg
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishAllhallows

Tower house, farmhouse and adjoining barn. C15 for Alexander Highmoor, early C19 farmhouse, replacing hall range dated by inscription retained inside THYS HOUSE WAS BUILDED IN THE FOURH YERE OF THE RYNE OF KYNG EDWARDE THE SEX WHAN A BOUSCHEL OF WETE WAS AT viis, A BOUSCHEL OF BERE A NOWBEL, MAULT iiiis ST(ONE) MORE, with porch inscribed THE BLESSING OF THE LORD IT MAKETH RICH G.A.M. (George Moore) THIS PORCH WAS BUILT AD 1876. Tower of large blocks of mixed red and yellow sandstone, with battlemented parapet and flush red sandstone quoins, on large plinth stones. Farmhouse and barn of coursed red sandstone rubble under graduated greenslate roof with rendered chimney stacks. 4-storey tower, adjoining farmhouse to left 2 storeys, 3 bays with barn continuing to left under common roof. West wall of tower, nearest to farmhouse, has hollow-chamfered doorway which originally gave access into the lower chamber, but is now internally blocked and only gives access to newel staircase. 2 periods of roof creases show height of original hall range. South wall has central chamfered-surround openings, that on second floor blocked, with flanking slit vents, those to left for staircase, those to right for garderobes. East wall has 2-light stone-mullioned windows with cusped heads. North wall has hollow-chamfered doorway and 2-light windows (similar) to east wall but these are C19 replacements. Projecting west and east carved-head water spouts below parapets. Inner ground floor stone tunnel-vault. Newel staircase for full height up to parapet walk. Garderobes have original stone seats and hand sinks. Blocked first floor doorway into former hall range. C15 stone fireplaces on 2 levels. Roof and floors gone but corbel stones still in place. Farmhouse has stone-porch, with coped gable and ball finial, and chamfered-surround side door. Sash windows in painted stone surrounds. Rear extension has reused lintel inscribed F.H. 1594

Barn has plank doors and sliding loft door with flanking slit vents. (Listed Building Report)

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY192415
Latitude54.7618789672852
Longitude-3.25655007362366
Eastings319220
Northings541510
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 14
  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 56
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 42
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 86
  • Hugill, Robert, 1977, Castles and Peles of Cumberland and Westmorland (Newcastle; Frank Graham) p. 91-2
  • Pevsner, N., 1967, Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland (Harmondsworth: Penguin) p. 161
  • Curwen, J.F., 1913, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 13) p. 371-2
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 315 online copy
  • Hutchinson, W., 1794, The History of the County of Cumberland (Carlisle) Vol. 2 p. 360-1 online copy

Antiquarian

  • Sandford, E. c. 1675, in R.S. Ferguson (ed), 1890, A Cursory Relation of the all the Antiquities and Familyes in Cumberland (Kendal: CWAAS Tract Series 4) p. 25 online copy

Journals

  • Percival Turnbull, 1989, 'Harby Brow Pele Tower' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 89 p. 279 online copy