Newland Tower

Has been described as a Possible Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

NameNewland Tower
Alternative NamesNewlands in Wareton; Newlands in Warenton; Newland next to Belforth; mansum suum de Neulond
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishBelford

Fortified house, a licence to crenellate was granted, in 1310, to Sir John Middleton. Tower at this location was mentioned in documentary sources c.1415. No physical trace of a tower has been found at the supposed site. (PastScape)

No trace of a tower survives in or around the present farmstead, which traditionally occupies its site (F1 JHO 13-APR-55). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

One of a large number of licences granted to fairly modest knights in the early C14. There was certainly an existing house here and the building that resulted from the licence is likely to have been a fairly modest chamber block or solar tower attached to an unfortified hall (i.e. a pele tower). It is unlikely the obscure John Middleton would have the money to build anything more substantial and the lack of remains also suggests a modest building. Listed near the end of the 1415 list which is roughly order by size also suggesting a small tower.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNU116324
Latitude55.5852508544922
Longitude-1.81670999526978
Eastings411640
Northings632420
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 62-3
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 85
  • Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 1 Northern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
  • Jackson, M.J.,1992, Castles of Northumbria (Carlisle) p. 94
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 351
  • Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 139
  • Fraser, C.M. (ed), 1961, Ancient Petitions relating to Northumberland (Surtees Society 176) p. 141-2
  • Bateson, Edward (ed), 1893, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 1 p. 215 online copy
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. 8, 19 (Also published as the whole of volume 14 (series 2) of Archaeologia Aeliana view online)
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 406

Journals

  • Bates, C.J., 1891, 'Border Holds of Northumberland' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 14 p. 8, 19 online copy

Primary Sources

  • 1415, Nomina Castrorum et Fortaliciorum infra Comitatum Northumbrie online transcription
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1894, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward II (1307-13) Vol. 1 p. 272 online copy