Cherry Trees Bastle, Corsenside

Has been described as a Certain Bastle

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameCherry Trees Bastle, Corsenside
Alternative NamesYellow House Cottage
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishCorsenside

NY 89538707 Yellow House Cottage, (now known as 'Cherry Trees') incorporates the remains of a fortified dwelling of the type known as a bastle or pele house. These buildings, which came late in the period of border fortification, were probably of 16th or early 17th century date. The remains are of a rectangular building, oriented south west-north east, with external measurements of 9.4m x 6.4m. The walls 1.2m thick, are of undressed stones, some very large, with roughly dressed quoins. The doorway at the north east end is narrow with a plain square head, over which is a crude relieving arch. The occupier of the house, Mr Oliver, states that before it was plastered over there was a circular recess on the underside of the lintel. This would be the upper of the two pivot holes usually found in this type of fortified dwelling. All other architectural features are modern insertions. The building is in good condition and used as a residence (F1 EG 09-APR-1956).

The house comprises a bastle 9.4m by 6.4m externally, with a 19th century outshut to the rear (south east), its central section raised to the north east of the outshut.

The bastle is constructed of large irregular blocks, with megalithic quoins; the walls are reported to be 1.2m thick. The original byre doorway is set centrally in the north east end; it appears to have been slightly enlarged (its chamfer cut away?), and has a relieving arch above. No other old features are visible externally. A blocked first floor window in the centre of the north west wall is probably of early 19th century date.

There is said to be a circular socket, presumably for a harr hung door, in the underside of the byre doorway. Interior not seen (Ryder 1994-5). (Northumberland HER)

Bastle house now converted into house. Late C16 or early C17. Outshut added to rear in C18 and extended to 1st floor in C19. Windows mainly inserted C19. Massive random rubble wall 4 ft thick. Welsh slate roof. 2 storeys

31 ft by 21 ft. One 2-light C19 mullioned window and one sash window on ground floor, 2 sashes above. On left return, original relieving arch over door 30 inches wide with C20 lintel. Gabled roof with flat coping and 2 stone gable stacks. (Listed Building Report)

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 ReferenceNY895870
Latitude55.1778411865234
Longitude-2.16571998596191
Eastings389548
Northings587072
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 84
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 117 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 357
  • Ramm, H.G., McDowall, R.W. and Mercer, E., 1970, Shielings and Bastles (London: HMSO) p. 84 no. 34

Journals

  • Christopherson, R., 2011, 'Northumberland bastles: origin and distribution' Medieval Settlement Research Vol. 26 p. 21-33 (listed in appendix)

Other

  • Ryder, P.F., 1994-5, Towers and Bastles in Northumberland Part 4 Tynedale District Vol. 1 p. 61