Choppington Tower

Has been described as a Possible Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

NameChoppington Tower
Alternative NamesChopington; Chapyngton
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishBedlington

Tower is mentioned at Choppington in 1541 and is thought to have been built in about 1500 by Gawen Ogle. The exact location of the building is not now known, although it may have stood on the site of Glebe Farm. (Keys to the Past)

Approximate site of a fortified house or pele tower, built in 1503. The exact site of the building is not known, though sources suggest it may have stood at NZ 254830 or in the area of Choppington now known as Scotland Gate. (PastScape ref. King, 1983 and Dodds, 1999)

Choppington Tower. Now disappeared, site unknown, though it may have stood on the site of Glebe Farm (NZ 25458301). First mentioned in 1541. Built by Gawen Ogle c.1500 (Long 1967).

The site of Choppington Tower has been suggested to lie in a field further north, near Choppington Wood. The field contains earthworks (Pers Comm, J Nesbitt, 1990s). (Northumberland HER)

In 1715 recorded as "a large old tower belonging to the bishop of Durham; lessee, George Bulman, merchant in Newcastle." (Hodgson 1916)

Gatehouse Comments

Not recorded in the 1541 survey of Northumberland fortification although as in lands of the Bishop of Durham may have been outside the remit of that survey.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ255830
Latitude55.1408195495605
Longitude-1.60222005844116
Eastings425500
Northings583000
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 218
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 114 (slight)
  • Rowland, T.H., 1987 (reprint1994), Medieval Castles, Towers, Peles and Bastles of Northumberland (Sandhill Press) p. 77
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 347
  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 110
  • Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 84
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. 22 (Also published as the whole of volume 14 (series 2) of Archaeologia Aeliana view online)
  • Raine, J., 1852, History and Antiquities of North Durham (London) p. 371 and note
  • Hodgson, J., 1832, History of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Part 2 Vol. 2 p. 364 online copy

Journals

  • Hodgson, J.C., 1916, 'List of Ruined Towers, Chapels, etc., in Northumberland; compiled about 1715 by John Warburton, Somerset Herald, aided by John Horsley' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser3) Vol. 13 abridged transcription
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, 'Border Holds of Northumberland' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 14 p. 22 online copy