Outchester Tower

Has been described as a Possible Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

NameOutchester Tower
Alternative Names
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishEasington

There was a tower at Outchester, attached to the residence of the owner of the manor, of which all trace has now disappeared. It occurs in a deed of 1462 and other documents of the same period. In 1547 a "manor tower" is mentioned, and in 1605 the 'ancient house' is referred to (Bateson 1893).

There is no trace of this tower to be seen in the present farm buildings at Outchester or in the near vicinity (F1 JHO 31-MAR-55). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Medieval tower at Outchester, documented in 1462, 1547 and 1605. Demolished after the Act of Union. No traces visible. The survey of 1715 records in Outchester "an old house bellonging to Ld Derwentwatter". Is this a reference to this tower? It should be noted that the tower is not in the C16 surveys of Northumberland fortifications and its description as 'manor tower' is unusual. Is it possible that this was a domestic building with some elements of martial architecture but not really considered defensive? Not to be confused with Spindlestone Ducket an C18 dovecot sometime called Outchester Tower.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNU140333
Latitude55.5933990478516
Longitude-1.77892994880676
Eastings414030
Northings633330
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 134
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 115 (slight)
  • Rowland, T.H., 1987 (reprint1994), Medieval Castles, Towers, Peles and Bastles of Northumberland (Sandhill Press) p. 26
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 352
  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 291
  • Bateson, Edward (ed), 1893, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 1 p. 204-6 online copy

Journals

  • 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