Aikton Hall

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameAikton Hall
Alternative NamesUpper Hall
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishAikton

The Rectory at Aikton is known as Aikton Hall. The ONB however mentions these as two separate buildings (Barnes 1913; Ordnance Name Book Cumb 22 SW 1899 5).

In the grounds to the east of the Rectory, the foundations of some older buildings may be traced. Near to these foundations is a deep ditch, which has suggested a moated rectory, and there is a distinct depression leading in a southerly direction from the ditch towards Down Hall, as if the defensive works of the rectory at one time had been connected with the moated stronghold (NY 25 SE 5) (Bulmer 1907).

No building foundations are now discernible. The ditch is virtually filled in, leaving three small ornamental ponds, and the whole is ill-defined. In the absence of any other obvious function, it may represent the eastern arm of a wet moat, but any connection with Down Hall is unlikely (F1 BHP 26-NOV-68).

Aikton Hall. Discussed as part of a complex including Downland 'Castles' (Bennett et al 1987). (PastScape)

Moated earthworks.

G.T. Clark states 'the Upper Hall or Vicarage has also a moat.

Earlier, foundations of buildings could be traced... suggested to be a moated rectory... no foundations discernible, part of ditch filled in... (SMR 392) Needs further work to establish if this was a fortified site; unlikely so close to the manor house unless this was an earlier site for the manor and abandoned for some reason. (Perriam and Robinson 1998)

Gatehouse Comments

Adjacent to Downhall The Castles

- 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 ReferenceNY281528
Latitude54.8654594421387
Longitude-3.12109994888306
Eastings328141
Northings552879
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 58
  • Bulmer, T.F., 1901, History, Topography and Directory of Cumberland (Manchester) p. 104 online copy

Journals

  • Bennet, J., Herne, A. and Whitworth, A., 1987, '"The Castles", Downhall, Aikton' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 87 p. 68 online copy
  • Barnes, H., 1913, 'Aikton Church' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 13 p. 272 online copy
  • Clark, G.T., 1882, 'On the Mediaeval Defences of the English Border' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 6 p. 47 online copy