Humbleton Tower, Akeld

Has been described as a Possible Pele Tower, and also as a Possible Bastle

There are no visible remains

NameHumbleton Tower, Akeld
Alternative NamesHomyldon
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishAkeld

Survey of 1541 stated that there was no tower in Humbleton, but on a map of 1584 a tower is marked. A later survey of about 1715 referred to the remains of an 'old pile' in the village. A further account of 1878 stated that traces of a pele tower could still be seen, and was marked by a bush of elder. However, it is not possible to locate the site, and no trace survives today. (Keys to the Past)

Gatehouse Comments

Said to have been in the village, which is now a small hamlet of half a dozen properties but did have a medieval chapel. The precise location of this 'old pile' is lost as is its exact nature. The presence of a chapel may suggest Humbleton could have had a gentry status residence so it could have been a small chamber tower attached to a hall but the relatively late date might alternatively suggest this was a 'pele house' (i.e. a bastle) of somewhat less social status, although generally these are not included in the C16 surveys.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNT975285
Latitude55.5498809814453
Longitude-2.03955006599426
Eastings397500
Northings628500
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 69
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 115 (slight)
  • Graham, Frank, 1993, Northumberian Castles Aln, Tweed and Till (Butler Publishing) p. 33-4
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 350
  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 218
  • Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 125-6
  • Dodds, Madeleine Hope (ed), 1935, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 14 p. 165
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. 78-9 (Also published as the whole of volume 14 (series 2) of Archaeologia Aeliana view online)

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 p. 6 abridged transcription
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, 'Border Holds of Northumberland' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 14 p. 78-9 online copy

Other

  • Constable, Christopher, 2003, Aspects of the archaeology of the castle in the north of England C 1066-1216 (Doctoral thesis, Durham University) Available at Durham E-Theses Online