Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Boarstall Tower
Hob Uid: 340977
Location : Buckinghamshire Boarstall
Grid Ref : SP6240014190
Summary : Built in the early 14th century, for John de Handle, as the gatehouse to a house that was demolished in the late 18th century. It was altered in the late 16th to 17th centuries and then again in the 20th century to be used as a house. It is built of coursed rubble stone with ashlar dressings and a lead roof and comprises a rectangular building with hexagonal corner towers. The rear towers are a little taller and contain stone spiral staircases. Traces of medieval drawings survive on the rear wall of the ground floor. A bridge, built in 1736, crosses the moat in front of the building.
More information : (SP 62431424) Boarstall Tower (NR) Moat (NR) (1) A 14th century gatehouse with 16th century modifications formerly part of Boarstall House pulled down in the 18th century. The plan is rectangular with a hexagonal tower at each corner. The moat is about 60ft wide and has a strong inner rampart. The E arm is obliterated. Grade I. (2-3) The gatehouse of a large house for which licence to crenellate was obtained in 1312. The late 17th century stables now a farmhouse. (4) Given to the National Trust in 1943. (5) Boarstall Tower (name confirmed) is a small gatehouse converted to use as a residence without damage to its external appearance. The converted 17th century stables at SP 62411428, now called "Tower Farm", are not outstanding (See illustration cards). Boarstall moat occupies a level site and is fed by surface drainage. It is about 1.7m deep to water level, and from 12.0m to 20.0m wide at the top. There is no clear 'inner rampart' (2) and a raised area approximately 15.0m wide and 0.5m high around the inner side of the moat seems like the depredation of formal gardens. (6) A print of 1675 by W Burgher shows a large rather Elizabethan house parallel to the gatehouse across the centre of the enclosure and enclosed by formal walks and at that time there was no E arm to the moat. Surveyed at 1:2500 on PFD. (7) Listed by Cathcart King. (8)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1960
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 57-9
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : District of Aylesbury Vale Bucks June 1949
Page(s) : 11
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 68-9
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : National Trust Properties h d 3
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : F1 NVQ 28-FEB-77
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : District of Aylesbury Vale (26th Febraury 1985)
Page(s) : 2
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 397

Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 26
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Gatehouse, Wall Painting, Graffiti
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Built early C14
Monument End Date : 1332
Monument Start Date : 1300
Monument Type : Gatehouse, Fortified House, Moat
Evidence : Extant Building, Demolished Building, Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Altered late C16/C17
Monument End Date : 1799
Monument Start Date : 1567
Monument Type : Gatehouse, Fortified House
Evidence : Extant Building, Demolished Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Demolished late C18
Monument End Date : 1799
Monument Start Date : 1767
Monument Type : Fortified House
Evidence : Demolished Building

Monument Period Name : Georgian
Display Date : Built 1736
Monument End Date : 1736
Monument Start Date : 1736
Monument Type : Bridge
Evidence : Structure

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Altered C20
Monument End Date : 1999
Monument Start Date : 1900
Monument Type : House
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 103092
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 42384
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SP 61 SW 2
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1977-02-28
End Date : 1977-02-28

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-11-14
End Date : 1995-11-14

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1998-01-01
End Date : 1998-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1998-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2001-01-01
End Date : 2001-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2008-01-01
End Date : 2008-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Boarstall Tower