Cocklaw Tower, Wall
Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House, and also as a Possible Pele Tower
There are major building remains
| Name | Cocklaw Tower, Wall |
| Alternative Names | |
| Historic Country | Northumberland |
| Modern Authority | Northumberland |
| 1974 Authority | Northumberland |
| Civil Parish | Wall |
Towerhouse, late C14 or early C15. Large squared stone, probably re-used Roman material. Rectangular plan; 3 floors,each with single large chamber,smaller chamber to south and newel stair at south-east corner. Chamfered set-back above basement and hollow-chamfered cornice (largely fallen) below parapet. South elevation shows central pointed chamfered doorway to basement and scattered chamfered loops; above cornice, remains of taller turret at south-west corner. East elevation shows similar doorway at 1st floor level with window of 2 trefoil-headed lights (mullion gone) to right, also various chamfered loops; west elevation shows similar 2-light 1st-floor window, north elevation only loops.
Interior: vaulted lobby with doorway to stair on right and hole broken through wall on left into former prison originally accessible only via trapdoor from painted chamber above. Main basement barrel vault partly fallen at north end. Painted chamber, with remains of C16 mural decoration, on south at 1st floor level, and garderobe to north-west. Mezzanine chamber on south between 1st and 2nd floors, entered only from stair.
The virtually-intact shell of a towerhouse. (Listed Building Report)
A well-preserved pele-tower, probably 15thc. (Pevsner). There are indications of a moat, and external buildings, possibly a barmkin (Pevsner; Hodgson 1897).
The shell of the tower is in good condition. There are no remains of a moat, or of external buildings, apart from a fragment of masonry abutting the south face of the tower, which may indicate a former curtain-wall (F1 RWE 15-NOV-66). (PastScape)
Cocklaw Tower is one of the better-preserved fortified medieval towers in Northumberland. Although, there is now no visible evidence of other medieval buildings around the tower, there are records of a chapel nearby. This suggests that the tower was just one building of a group of structures associated with the manor
The tower itself probably dates to the late 14th or 15th century. The main accommodation would have been on the second floor. This room contains painted decorations of the 16th century date. (Keys to the Past)
This site is a scheduled monument protected by law
This is a Grade 1 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 Reference | NY939711 |
| Latitude | 55.0347900390625 |
| Longitude | -2.09664988517761 |
| Eastings | 393920 |
| Northings | 571160 |
