MONUMENT NO. 7690

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

Site of a tower recorded in 1415 at Westhall. The remains of a moat can be traced, although it has been partly built upon and plough damaged. Human bones and a 15th century spur were found when enlarging the mill pond, formerly part of the moat, in the 19th century.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

[NU 10293398] Moat [NR]. (1)

Westhall is the site of a tower or 'fortilage'. Remains of a moat can be traced, and the inequalities of the ground mark the foundations of a building. Human bones and a pair of 15th C spurs were found some years ago by workmen enlarging the mill pond, formerly part of the moat. (2)

Listed in 1415. (3)

No building foundations are now visible. The NE angle and eastern arm of the moat have been obliterated by the modern farm, and the remainder greatly reduced by ploughing, so that virtually only the southern arm and SW angle survive.
Published survey (25") revised. (4)

Condition unchanged. (5)

There may have been a motte and bailey here in the late 11th century, but the first recorded building was an unfortified manor house which Edward III spent the night in on his return form the Battle of Halidon Hill, 1333. By 1415 the manor house had been replaced by the `Castrum de Beleford', a strong tower. The moat was dug at this time as part of the building's defences. (6)

Listed by King. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 25" 1966

( 2) by Edward Bateson 1893 A history of Northumberland, volume one : the parish of Bamburgh with the chapelry of Belford

A history of Northumberland15 vols (1893-1940) (E Bateson) vol.1 Page(s)363-4

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

(CJ Bates) 14: 1891 Page(s)12-23

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 WDJ 29-NOV-64

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F2 BHP 07-NOV-68

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

Page(s)62-3

(7) 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)327

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
NMR
ViewFinder