Elwick Tower of Thomas Elwyke

Has been described as a Certain Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

NameElwick Tower of Thomas Elwyke
Alternative Names'Turris Thomae de Elwyke in Eadem'; Ellwick
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishMiddleton

Site of shrunken village of Elwick. One of two pele towers were recorded in the survey of 1415, and extant in 1561, but no trace of such structures survives. (PastScape)

Elwick a small village not far from ye sea, with ye ruin of two ancient piles belonging to Lord Ossleston (Survey of 1715 quoted in Hodgson 1916)

n medieval times the ownership of Elwick was divided between the Bishop of Durham and the barons of Wooler. It is mentioned in historic documents dating back to the 13th century when five people were liable for tax. In the 15th century two towers are mentioned, although there is no trace of them today. In the 18th century a small village is shown on a map of 1769 together with two ruins at the west end. Today there is a farm and some cottages, behind which is a raised platform with six broad ridges nearly 50m in length with a hollow way on its east side and these may be the back of a village toft. (Keys to the Past)

Gatehouse Comments

The lack of remains and the status of the towers owners (and tenants) suggest this was a small solar tower attached to a hall rather than a tower house. The actual site is lost. Map reference for centre of hamlet.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNU115369
Latitude55.62548828125
Longitude-1.81789994239807
Eastings411500
Northings636900
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 61
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 114 (slight)
  • Rowland, T.H., 1987 (reprint1994), Medieval Castles, Towers, Peles and Bastles of Northumberland (Sandhill Press) p. 23
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 347
  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 151
  • Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 98
  • Bateson, Edward (ed), 1893, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 1 p. 411 online copy
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. 17, 53 (Also published as the whole of volume 14 (series 2) of Archaeologia Aeliana view online)

Journals

  • 1963, Medieval Village Research Group annual report Vol. 11, App C No 50
  • 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. 5 abridged transcription
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, 'Border Holds of Northumberland' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 14 p. 17, 53 online copy

Primary Sources

Other

  • Dixon, P.J., 1984, The Deserted Medieval Villages of North Northumberland Vol. 2 (PhD Thesis: University of Wales) p. 226-8