Gilthwaiterigg, Kendal

Has been described as a Questionable Pele Tower

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameGilthwaiterigg, Kendal
Alternative Names
Historic CountryWestmorland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishKendal

Gilthwaiterigg, house about ½ m. W.S.W. of the church, is of two storeys; the walls are of rubble and the roofs are slate-covered. It was built probably in the 15th century and is of H-shaped plan with the cross-wings at the E. and W. ends. The house has been much altered and modernised. The W. wing retains two original windows, each of two trefoiled lights in a square head with a moulded label; both are now blocked. Inside the building is an early 18th-century staircase, with turned balusters and square newels. The roof of the main block or former hall is original and of three bays; the trusses have been mutilated but retain the heads of their king-posts; the upper parts of the principals of the W. truss are cut with a double curve. The roof of the W. wing is also original and of four bays; the trusses have collar-beams with arched braces.

Condition—Good. (RCHME 1936)

Early C17 hall with cross wings built on C15 core. If either of the crosswings had been crenellated, there would be no doubt that it had been a fortified house (Perriam and Robinson). (PastScape)

Early C16 with later additions and alterations. Slobbered rubble with quoins, partly wet-dashed. Graduated slate roofs with outshuts added to rear; ball finials to gables. Large, original, stepped, rendered chimney to right of centre; other end chimneys. 2 gabled dormers. Hall with cross-wings; 2 storeys, 5 bays overall... (Listed Building Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Apart from Perriam and Robinson's assertion that if a crosswing had been crenellated the house would been fortified there is little evidence of this being a fortified house.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSD521952
Latitude54.3511390686035
Longitude-2.73891997337341
Eastings352110
Northings495250
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 340
  • RCHME, 1936, An inventory of the historical monuments in Westmorland (HMSO) p. 213 no. 4 online transcription

Antiquarian

  • Hughes, E. (ed), 1962, Fleming-Senhouse Papers (Carlisle: Cumberland Record Series 2) p. 13

Other

  • English Heritage, 2006, Extensive Urban Survey - Cumbria (Cumbria County Council) Download copy