Bitchfield Tower

Bitchfield Tower
Bitchfield Tower
Bitchfield Tower shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference NZ091771
Coordinates 55°05′20″N 1°51′25″W / 55.089°N 1.857°W / 55.089; -1.857Coordinates: 55°05′20″N 1°51′25″W / 55.089°N 1.857°W / 55.089; -1.857
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UK
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Northumberland
Bitchfield Tower

Bitchfield Tower or West Bitchfield Tower is a 15th-century medieval pele tower near Belsay, Northumberland, England.[1] It is a Grade I listed building.[2]

The three storied battlemented tower was built in the 15th century by the Middleton family who sold it to the Harbottles in 1502.[3] Marjorie Harbottle the heiress to the Harbottle estate, married Sir John Fenwick of Fenwick Tower and in 1529 they conveyed the property to their second son Roger Fenwick.[3] In 1622 Robert Fenwick built a new manor house adjoining the tower:[2] a datestone inscribed 'RF 1622 JF' is incorporated into the building[3][4]

The Fenwicks sold the estate in 1630 to Edward Grey, from whom it was sequestered in 1646.[3] In 1680 it was acquired by Sir James Clavering and in 1802 the Claverings sold to Sir Charles Monck[3]

It was in a state of ruin by 1930 but has since been restored [5]

References

  1. ↑ Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, The David & Charles Book of Castles, David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3
  2. 1 2 Keys to the Past Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 A History of Northumberland, Volume XII Miss MH Dodds (1926) pp346 and 349
  4. ↑ Structures of the North East Archived June 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Gatehouse Gazetteer


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