More information : The tower at Shawdon is mentioned in 1403, but in a list of
1460 (2) (authorities (1) and (2) give this date as 1415) it is
referred to as a 'Castrum". A survey of 1542 refers to it as a tower
in good repair (4).
Shawdon now stands on the level ground above the right (SW) bank of the Shawdon Burn dene. Here once no doubt stood the "mediaeval town" with the owners's little tower. Of all this no trace now remains except some fragments of carved stonework preserved in the rockeries in the grounds. In 1799 William Hargrave made a clean sweep of the area, building the present hall (NU 09261432) and laying out the extensive grounds (1)
There are no traces of the tower or mediaeval village to be seen in the vicinity of Shawdon Hall. The present building stands on a
slight rise, commanding a good view, and was possibly erected on the site of the tower. The fragments of stonework referred to are situated at NU 09341427. They include a corbel carved with a face; fragment of octagonal pillar; a stone, possibly a pediment of a gateway with a face carved on one side and a weathered plaque on the other, and a shallow octagonal trough - possibly from a fountain.
Shawdon listed as a DMV (Nothing visible on available APs (RAF 1946))
Country house, built in 1799, probably on the site of a deserted medieval settlement. A pele tower or bastle at Shawdon was recorded in a survey of 1403. No trace of the settlement or the tower survives. The house was altered in 1970. Listed Grade II*. (7)
A tower was built at Shawdon in the 14th century but was demolished in 1779 to make way for the present Shawdon Hall. (8,9) |