Kirfit Hall

Has been described as a Questionable Pele Tower

There are major building remains

NameKirfit Hall
Alternative NamesKerfitt Hall, Kirfitt Hall
Historic CountryWestmorland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishCasterton

Kirfit Hall (Plate 16), near the right bank of the river Lune and 350 yards S.W. of Mill Gill, is of two storeys with attics; the walls are of rubble and the roofs are slate-covered. It was built probably early in the 17th century on an L-shaped plan with the wings extending towards the E. and S. The staircase-tower on the W. was added late in the 17th century. The S.E. wing is an 18th-century addition. The original S. wing retains most of its stone windows; they are generally of two lights with transoms. The tower is carried up four storeys and finished with a low pyramidal roof; the windows are generally similar to those in the S. wing. The original E. wing retains some old windows. Inside the building are one or more original partitions of the muntin and plank type. The early to mid 17th-century staircase in the E. wing has heavy turned balusters. The late 17th-century staircase in the tower is of similar but slighter character, with square newels finished with moulded cappings. There are a number of original battened doors.

On the N. and W. sides of the house is a dry ditch with an inner revetment of rubble.

Condition—Good, except the tower and part of the S. wing, which are nearly derelict. (RCHME 1936)

Gatehouse Comments

Suggestion that stairtower of early C17 Grade 2 listed hall may be earlier. Stairtower is distinctive and of the right size and form to be pele tower, although this may be a deliberate design feature to invoke an earlier origin to the building.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2 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 ReferenceSD617794
Latitude54.2090606689453
Longitude-2.58770990371704
Eastings361700
Northings479400
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 356
  • Palmer, J.H., 1944, Historic Farmhouses in and around Westmorland (Kendal) p. 78
  • RCHME, 1936, An inventory of the historical monuments in Westmorland (HMSO) p. 66-67 no. 2 online transcription

Other

  • Emmeline Garnett, January 2014, Victoria County History of Cumbria Project: Work in Progress Interim Draft online copy