Thornlaw, Thornley

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are no visible remains

NameThornlaw, Thornley
Alternative NamesThornton, castellum de Thornauum
Historic CountryDurham
Modern AuthorityDurham
1974 AuthorityCounty Durham
Civil ParishThornley

A castle was documented at Thornley in 1143, (castellum de Thornauum) when it was built or rebuilt by the lawful Bishop against the usurper Cumin. It was surrendered and retaken soon after. Last documented in 1152. (PastScape ref. King)

THORNLAW, during the time of Cummin's usurpation of the See, was a place of strength, and received bishop William de Sancta Barbara and his adherents for some short time during those contentions, as noted in the annals of that prelate. There are no remains of fortification which can lead the traveller to conjecture what was then the strength of the place: The present mansion-house stands upon an eminence, with deep gulleys or dells towards the east and south, but has no remarkable situation for defence. (Hutchinson Vol. 3)

Gatehouse Comments

Most probably on site of present Thornley Hall, which is naturally defensible. The DMV north of the Hall is a SAM (PastScape 25876). The site was held for a few winter months by an a force weakened by hunger so the amount of fortifications this force actually built may be open to question. However the site may already have been occupied by a manor house with some level of fortification.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ360383
Latitude54.7391586303711
Longitude-1.44061994552612
Eastings436000
Northings538300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 122-3
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles and Tower Houses of County Durham (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 58
  • Jackson, M.J., 1996, Castles of Durham and Cleveland (Carlisle) p. 61-2
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 139
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1907, VCH Durham Vol. 2 p. 141-2 online copy
  • Whellan, F., 1894 (2edn), History, Topography and Directory of the County of Durham p. 786-7
  • Surtees, R., 1816-40 (1972 Reprint), The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham (London) Vol. 1 p. 83
  • Surtees, R., 1816 (1910 Reprint), The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol. 3 p. 178- online copy
  • Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol. 1 p. 196-7 online copy; Vol. 3 p. 13 [online copy > http://archive.org/stream/historyantiquiti03hutcuoft#page/13/mode/1up]

Primary Sources

  • Arnold, T. (ed), 1882-5, Symeonis Monachi Opera Omnia (London: Rolls Series 75)