More information : [NY 87747787] Birtley Castle [G.T.] (Remains of) (1)
A chief messuage of Birtley is mentioned in 1307, but the name does not occur in the list of castles and fortalices of 1415 nor in the survey of 1541. The ruined walls of Birtley Hall in the vicarage garden may be of a building not earlier than 1611. This date together with the letters "J.H." is on a stone built into the wall of an adjoining building. It was probably built by the cadet line in the Heron family of Chipchase. (2)
Tower at Birtley (possibly as late as 1611). (3)
Photograph of remains. (4)
The vicarage occupies the site of the old pile or castle of Birtley, which judging from the remains of Norman dog tooth ornament and other architectural features was built by the Umframvilles in the latter part of the C12th. There is however no historical record of a tower which at a later period was known as Birtley Hall. (5)
The remains consist of a main NE-SW wall and portions of two adjoining walls running to the NW. They are some 1.5m wide and up to 2.5m. high. In the majority of places the external facing has collapsed and the inner rubble core is clearly exposed.
Modern facing may be seen in places, completed no doubt when the remains were incorporated in the present garden wall. No date stone or dog-toothed ornament is visible within the garden or within the build up of adjacent walls.
The sole architectural feature visible is a slit window which is undateable. The stonewalk is roughly coursed and bonded and appears to be much earlier than 1611. The date stone was originally within the fabric of the adjoining building and may possibly apply to the house preceding the present vicarage and not to the ruined building. See illustration card. (6)
The major part of the surviving wall collapsed in 1963 and has since been crudely rebuilt by the present owner. The remains have also been further slighted by being incorporated into an ornamental garden. (7)
Listed by Cathcart King. (8)
Birtley township was an Umfraville possession until the late 14th century, when it passed to the Percy family. Neither family ever lived there, and it was retained as a letting property. Although recorded as a chief messuage in 1307, a term which usually means a fortified main seat, often a tower, no tenants names were recorded until 1533. No trace of a likely ruin has been seen in the area. In 1611 a small tower was built in Birtley village opposite the church by John Heron, and appears to have been an entirely new construction. (9)
Listed Grade II. (10) |