Melsonby Tower

Has been described as a Possible Pele Tower

There are masonry footings remains

NameMelsonby Tower
Alternative Names
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityNorth Yorkshire
1974 AuthorityNorth Yorkshire
Civil ParishMelsonby

The foundations of a chapel or a tower house lie to the south west of the rectory at Melsonby. (PastScape ref. Pevsner)

South of the rectory are vestiges of what may have been the turriolum granted by John de Carleberg to William de Marske and confirmed to him by John Abbot of Easby. (Egerton MS. 2827, fol. 55) The only remains visible consist of a wall of doubtful origin with a shorter section joining it at right angles. In the field are numerous lines and mounds suggestive of other buildings. (VCH)

Gatehouse Comments

King writes vanished tower but Salter (probably working from the VCH) writes there are slight remains. This is not the same as "convent (Remains of)" marked on the 1893 OS map at NZ20250827 which the VCH record as 'the remains of the Benedictine convent of Molesby in the parish of Marton'. The scant remains may well not have been the recorded tower, whcih could have been elsewhere in the village and demolished and rebuilt over.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ201083
Latitude54.469669342041
Longitude-1.69168996810913
Eastings420100
Northings508300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Yorkshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 60
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 530
  • Pevsner, N., 1966, Buildings of England: Yorkshire: North Riding (London) p. 244 (a mention)
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1914, VCH Yorkshire: North Riding Vol. 1 p. 105 online transcription

Primary Sources

  • Egerton MS. 2827, fol. 55