Benwell tower

HER Number:
139

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Benwell tower

Place:
Benwell

Map Sheet:
NZ26SW

Class:
Defence

Site Type: Broad:
Fortified House

Site Type: Specific:
Tower House

General Period:
MEDIEVAL

Specific Period:
Medieval 1066 to 1540

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
The earliest reference to a tower is in documents from 1538-39 where it is contained in a list of property lately belonging to the priors of Tynemouth. Both then and in the 1608 Survey of Crown Property it is described as the manor house. It has been suggested that "a gabled residence with projecting chimney stacks" was added to the south-west angle of the tower in the late medieval period, and that then, or earlier, the whole was enclosed by a courtyard. Antiquarian drawings show a plain oblong tower three storeys high with a crenellated papapet, but no medieval windows are visible. In the mid 18th century the house was largely rebuilt, but the house and tower were demolished in 1831, and replaced by the present Benwell Tower.

Easting:
421180

Northing:
564500

Grid Reference:
NZ421180564500

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 139 >> H. Bourne, 1736, History of Newcastle p. 113 J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, p. 111 note s. W.H. Knowles, 1922, Benwell Tower, Newcastle, Archaeologia Aeliana, 3, XIX, pp. 88-98 M.H. Dodds,1930, Northumberland County History, XIII, pp. 215, 227-230 W.S. Gibson, 1846, The History of the Monastery of Tynemouth, I, p. 225; Archaeological Research Services, 2010, The Mitre, Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne - Archaeological Assessment and Building Recording; J. Ewart, no date, Plan of Benwell Tower Estate near Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Libraries L912.2 N537B, https://www.flickr.com/photos/newcastlelibraries/26234231395/in/album-72157666225808630/