Castlefacts³

Beukley

Has been described as a Questionable Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

Name	Beukley
Alternative Names	Bukeley; Bewclay; Boclive; Beuclay
Historic Country	Northumberland
Modern Authority	Northumberland
1974 Authority	Northumberland
Civil Parish	Wall

Possible site of a pele, the remains were supposedly visible in 1715. Earthwork remains of minor depopulation, an old field-bank (the Ordnance Survey published linear earthwork) with the foundation of two rectangular buildings abutting on its SW side. East of the farm is a small area of hummocky ground which probably contained more buildings, though no intelligible pattern survives. These remains represent minor depopulation only. None of the present farm buildings if of any great age, and no trace of a pele could be found. (PastScape)

The site is elevated and would serve well as an exploratory fort. No remains, however, can be traced as works of defence, though the rough ground to the north of the farm looks very like entrenched remains (MacLauchlan 1858).

An 'ancient pile at Bukeley is mentioned in a survey of 1715' (Hodgson 1916).

The 'entrenched remains' north of the farm, consist of an old field-bank (the O.S. published linear earthwork) with the foundation of two rectangular buildings abutting on its south west side. East of the farm is a small area of hummocky ground which probably contained more buildings, though no intelligible pattern survives.

These remains represent minor depopulation only. None of the present farm buildings is of any great age, and no trace of a pele could be found (F1 WDJ 13-DEC-1961).

Beuclay was a vill in the regality of Hexham. Nine people in the vill paid tax in the 1295-6 Subsidy. No further indication of the size of the medieval village. Depopulation seems to have occurred by the mid-17th century. The ruins of a pele, with four other buildings, are shown on Armstrong's map of 1769, to the north of the road. The settlement now comprises a farmstead and a cottage.

The village site has been much affected by quarrying. The only clear earthwork seen is a bank running east-west in a field to the north of the present road

Ridge and furrow runs up to the steading on the south of the road (Wrathmell 1975). (Northumberland HER)

Gatehouse Comments

The interpretation of Armstrong's map as showing 'the ruins of a pele' may be questionable and the early C18 survey is vague but generally deals with higher status tower houses but does include some Roman remains. There is no physical evidence for a pele tower in this small township and the tenurial history does not really support the existence of one but there was something here to be called a 'great pile' and to be marked on Armstrong's map but what that was and where exactly located requires further investigation.The place is written as Beukley on the modern OS map, called Bewclay by King, named Bukeley in the transcription of the 1715 survey and has a few other variations of spelling elsewhere.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

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

19092

County Historic Environment Record

www.keystothepast.info/article/10339/Site-Details?PRN=N9356

OS Map Grid Reference	NY983709
Latitude	55.0326309204102
Longitude	-2.0279700756073
Eastings	398300
Northings	570930