Bathers Tower, Spittal

Has been described as a Certain Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

NameBathers Tower, Spittal
Alternative NamesHospital of St Bartholomew; Twedemouth
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishBerwick upon Tweed

Site of a 13th century leper hospital. The leper hospital of St. Bartholomew at Spittal by Tweedmouth was founded AD 1234 and a tower or peel, referred to in 1612 as Bathes Tower, was erected for protection in 1369. The tower was in good condition in 1541, and as late as 1612, when it was referred to as Bather's Tower. Its location is unknown, but several human bones have been periodically found in the 18th century in an area which was part of Spittal Hall farm. (PastScape)

This is the site of a hospital for lepers built in 1234. A stone tower was built for protection from Scottish raiders in 1369. However, the building has long been demolished and nothing can be seen at the site today. (Keys to the Past)

Gatehouse Comments

St Bartholomew was also known as John de Bather.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNU005518
Latitude55.7595596313477
Longitude-1.99357998371124
Eastings400500
Northings651800
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 51
  • Graham, Frank, 1993, Northumberian Castles Aln, Tweed and Till (Butler Publishing) p. 43
  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 329
  • Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 164
  • Clay, R.M. 1909, The Medieval Hospitals of England (London) p. 312 online copy
  • Raine, J., 1852, History and Antiquities of North Durham (London) p. 246-7

Primary Sources