MONUMENT NO. 23368

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DESCRIPTION

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Site of a possible pele tower or bastle, recorded in the survey of 1415, probably built in 1405, and probably altered circa 1620. A barmkin was observed adjacent to the ruins in 1839.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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A list of 1415 refers to a tower at MELDON, the property of NICHOLAS HERON. (1)

The tower of MELDON stood "at the corner of a hedge about 150 yards south east of the church, and partly in two fields, where there are strong remains of the walls of vaults or cellars 60 feet long and 15 feet wide within. A wide and covered sewer ran from it to the north". There are also traces of walls and buildings on the top of the hill just south of the church and west of the tower, probably the remains of the barmkin and offices.

A tablet preserved in the church bearing the arms of FENWICK and the inscription W.F. 1620 probably refers to some additions made at that time, when SIR WILLIAM FENWICK removed to it from HARTINGTON.
Ref entry.(3)(4) (2-4)

NZ [12028380] The steading of a building measuring 19.0m by 7.5m demarcated by fragmentary banks, average width 3.0m, maximum height 0.8m. The orientation is NW-SE. To the east and downhill side the ground is uneven with dressed stones visible in places. To the SW there is old surface quarrying.

Although there are discrepancies with the siting given in (2) it is
considered that this steading is probably the remains of the tower. The distance south east of the church is approx. 120 yards (2)
gives the distance as 150 yards), and whereas the steading is now wholly in one field the gaps in the banks may indicate the former existence of a fence or hedge forming a field division, which would agree with the description in (2). The interior measurements would not vary greatly from (2).

There is no trace of a covered sewer leading north or of building remains south of the church, the latter area being now occupied by the modern Rectory and attached gardens.

The tablet referred to in (2) is built into the inside of the church
wall at the west end of the south wall of the nave.

The field in which the steading is situated is known locally as
CHURCH FIELD. There is no local knowledge or tradition of a tower. (Field name from local enquiries). (5)

The probable remains of a tower, in poor condition. It is suitably
situated on rising gound. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)

Listed by Cathcart King and by Dodds. (7,8)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

C.J.Bates 14, 1891 Page(s)16

( 2) General reference

History of Northumberland, part II 2, 1832, pp 18-9 (J Hodgson)

( 3) General reference

History of Northumberland part III, 1, 1820, 28 (J Hodgson)

( 4) Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

16, 1939 Page(s)176

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 EG 23-JAN-56

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

F2 BHP

(7) Dodds, JF 1999 Bastions and Belligerents: Medieval Strongholds in Northumberland

Page(s)236-7

(8) David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Volume II : Norfolk-Yorkshire and the islands

Page(s)351

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