Ilderton Tower

Has been described as a Certain Tower House

There are uncertain remains

NameIlderton Tower
Alternative NamesTurris de Ildirton
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishIlderton

Ilderton Tower is mentioned in a list of 1415, and in 1541, is described as'with a strong barmkin'. In 1715 it was in ruins. Its site is not certainly known, but the remains may be built into the present hall. Maclauchan's plan shows pecked outline adjoining the SW corner of the farmhouse at NU01662177 (Dodds 1935; Bates 1891; Maclauchan 1864).

The only possible remains of the tower are fragments of walling and a buttress incorporated in the garden wall in the position noted by Maclauchan. No trace of the barmkin survives (F1 ASP 25-NOV-55)

The buttress at NU0167421779 is 1.0m square and 3.5m high forming part of a wall extending from the southern corner of the

farmhouse. The other parts of the wall appear too thin to have been part of a tower. No other possible remains could be found in the area. No proof was found that this buttress was part of the original Ilderton Tower (F2 DSL 09-SEP-76). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Was considered to be be capably of lodging 50 soldiers in 1541 if repaired and described as a 'great tower' so presumably a tower house rather than a pele tower.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNU016217
Latitude55.4897308349609
Longitude-1.97527003288269
Eastings401660
Northings621770
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 110
  • 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. 33
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 350
  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 219
  • Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 126
  • Dodds, Madeleine Hope (ed), 1935, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 14 p. 266
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. 17, 42 (Also published as the whole of volume 14 (series 2) of Archaeologia Aeliana view online)
  • MacLauchlan, H., 1864, Memoir written during a survey of the eastern branch of the Watling Street (London) sheet 3

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. 10 abridged transcription
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, 'Border Holds of Northumberland' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 14 p. 17, 42 online copy

Primary Sources