| Summary : The remains of a fortified medieval hall house known locally as the Camera of Adam or King John's Palace. The visible remains include the north wall, north west turret, and part of the east wall and earthworks to north and south. The remains are constructed of coursed grained sandstone blocks. The north wall survives to its full length of 12 metres, and stands to a height of about 8 metres. The north west turret is 3 metres square and stands to about 8 metres. The north end of the east wall survives to 8 metres in height. The height of the wall decreases to the south and where the survival of the first floor level ceases, approximately 7 metres from the north wall, it survives to a height of only 6.5 metres. The ground floor level survives for a further 3 metres. The northernmost 3 metres of the east wall are thickened by an extra 0.2 metres and probably supported by a turret on the north east corner. The remains of the west wall can be seen as low earthworks extending out from the doorway jambs in the north wall and following the edge of the tennis court for 10 metres before becoming indiscernible. The earliest reference to the monument is in 1267 when it is mentioned in a licence to crenellate for Tarset Castle. Its construction has been associated with Adam of Jesmond, who was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1262-4 and 1267. It is believed to have been abandoned in the 17th century, though it continued in use as farm buildings until 1897 when attached buildings to the east and west were removed and consolidation of the remains was carried out. |