Harperhill, Stapleton

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

There are no visible remains

NameHarperhill, Stapleton
Alternative NamesHarpenhill
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishStapleton

{Name centred NY 50077159} A map in the British Museum, dated December 1590, has marked 'Harperhill' with tower symbol.

The buildings at Harperhill are entirely modern, and there is no local tradition of a tower here (F1 RE 16-MAR-72).

Listed. A survey is required to locate the site (Perriam and Robinson). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

The probability must be that the C16 house must have been at the location occupied by the modern farmhouse or under the adjacent farm buildings. There is nothing to suggests this was a gentry status site (Shank Castle was the manorial centre) so probably a 'pele-house' bastle.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY500715
Latitude55.0367584228516
Longitude-2.78206992149353
Eastings350000
Northings571500
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 99 (slight)
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 154
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 93
  • Jeffrey, A., 1864, History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire Vol. 4 p. 232 (facsimile of map) online copy

Journals

  • Ellis, H., 1829, 'Copy of a manuscript tract addressed to Lord Burghley, illustrative of the Border topography of Scotland, AD 1590, with a platt or map of the Borders taken in the same year' Archaeologia Vol. 22 p. 161-71 online copy

Primary Sources

  • 1590, A Platt of the opposete Borders of Scotland to ye west marches of England (The Aglionby Platt) British Library online Gallery and [Old Cumbria Gazetteer > http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/maps/m048.htm] (see also [Gatehouse Essay 'The Aglionby Platt' > http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/APHome.html])