Castlefacts³

Plump Tower

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

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

Name	Plump Tower
Alternative Names	Elwes; Matthewe Plomp; Plumpe Farm
Historic Country	Cumberland
Modern Authority	Cumbria
1974 Authority	Cumbria
Civil Parish	Kirkandrews

A tower and hall of 'Matthew Plomp' is depicted on the 1552 map of Cumbria. The present house is C18 vernacular descendant of C16 stonehouse or bastle, built along similar lines long after the defensive requirements were gone. (PastScape)

Shown on the 1552 Map as a tower and halls of 'Matthewe Plomp'. Cole, states 'the house... a vernacular descendant of the 16th century stonehouse, built along similar lines long after the defensive requirements were gone.' He compares this with Bunkershill and Windy Hall.

Cole gives further references, showing that the site can be traced back to 1552. TCWAAS (2), xii, 52 gives details of the Grahams of Plump.

Needs further investigation to determine its date. SMR report of aerial photo 'shows circular enclosure/ringditch. According to owner part of site is subject to ploughing and may have land drains across it. No surface finds (June 1978).' (Perriam and Robinson 1998)

Gatehouse Comments

Nothing obvious on air photo but extensive and large modern farm buildings obscure the site, and it is most likely the modern buildings site over the site of the C16 building. Shown as a row of single storey roofed houses and not as a crenellated tower on the 1552 map.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

1390077

County Historic Environment Record

maps.cumbria.gov.uk/eggp/eggp.aspx?dept=Environment&scriptname=1%20Historic%20Environment

OS Map Grid Reference	NY333681
Latitude	55.0034484863281
Longitude	-3.04287004470825
Eastings	333390
Northings	568310