Castlefacts³

Dowbiggin Foot

Has been described as a Questionable Bastle

There are no visible remains

Name	Dowbiggin Foot
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Yorkshire
Modern Authority	Cumbria
1974 Authority	Cumbria
Civil Parish	Sedbergh

There is strong documentary evidence that Dowbiggin Foot was the residence of James Cowper in 1540. The stone used in the present building suggests reuse from an important Mediaeval or Tudor building, possibly a stonehouse. (PastScape ref. Perriam and Robinson)

Medieval or Tudor stonehouse site.

Kevin Lancaster, (of Dowbiggin), writes; There is strong documentary evidence of this being the residence of James Cowper in the 1540s. His son Francis's inventory of 1616 is... most impressive... The stone used in building the present house suggests re-use from an important medieval or Tudor building. There is no evidence on the site today. (Perriam and Robinson 1998)

Gatehouse Comments

The form of this supposed late medieval farmhouse is not known beyond it being in stone. This is outside the usually area of pele-house bastles although the generally topography (a highland valley) is similar to that of the Marches North Pennines. Other than the inclusion in a gazetteer of 'medieval fortified buildings' there is nothing to suggest fortification.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

1390432

County Historic Environment Record

archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/420/

OS Map Grid Reference	SD682923
Latitude	54.3252487182617
Longitude	-2.49050998687744
Eastings	368190
Northings	492290