Castlefacts³

Selewra Pele

Has been described as a Possible Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

Name	Selewra Pele
Alternative Names	Sillyrea; Sillerea; Selewray Pele
Historic Country	Cumberland
Modern Authority	Cumbria
1974 Authority	Cumbria
Civil Parish	Skelton

Documentary evidence of a pele at Selewra, former capital messuage or manor, now Sillyrea south of Middlesceugh, in C14 and extant in 1576. (PastScape–ref. Perriam and Robinson)

Demolished 14th century tower?

1576 Ipm for John Allonbye, gent, refers to 'a capital messuage or manor called Selewray alais Selewray Pele with demesnes'.

TCWAAS (2), ix, 25; John de Penreth paid grass rent for Selywra in 1315. TCWAAS (2), xii, 4; Adam de Hoton of Alaynby acquired Selywra from John de Penreth in 1339. TCWAAS (2),i. 145 (Cal Fine); One tenement described 1452. TCWAAS (2), ix, 25; 1909 'Selywra now Sillyrea, south of Middlesceugh'.

Selewray today is a plantation in High Braithwaite, in the Civil Parish of Skelton, NW of Scales. Site not examined, and probably nothing remains above ground. No eye-witness account. Andrew Humphries, who is familiar with the area, equates it with Middlesceugh Hall. (Perriam and Robinson 1998)

Gatehouse Comments

Pele is a term used for a variety of things although, in this context (a C16 gentleman's residence), a solar tower attached to a hall is likely. Although the given map reference is to the plantation now bearing the Selewra derived name Gatehouse favours Middlesceugh Hall (NY40494073) as the site of John Allonybe's house.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

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

1389937

County Historic Environment Record

www.cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment/countryside/historic-environment/HER.asp

OS Map Grid Reference	NY410399
Latitude	54.7505798339844
Longitude	-2.91813993453979
Eastings	341000
Northings	539900