More information : Tower at Thropton. (1)
Mentioned in the 1415 Survey as the "Turis de Thropton". Described in the 1541 Survey as " a little tower of the Lord Ogle, decayed in the roofs and scarcely in good repair. (2)
Thropton Tower is mentioned in 1415. Early in the C16th it was held by Sir Edward Radcliffe, who did not inhabit it and had a garrison of 20 men. In 1541 it was called a little tower of the inheritance of Sir Cuthbert Radcliffe. It may have formed part of Thropton Old Hall, demolished in 1811 when the Catholic presbytery was rebuilt, or it may have been the bastle near the W end of the village (see Northum 41 SE 10). (3)
"The Presbytery stands upon the site of Thropton Old Hall. I still
receive letters addressed to the Old Hall. Under the house is an old well. I know of no other remains of an earlier building. The chapel was built in 1745. The present house was built later. (4)
NU 0297 0219. The presbytery, with chapel adjoining stands at the E end of the village of Thropton. There are no traces of a preceding structure to be seen in the construction of, or round, the present buildings. The site is a strong position for a tower, being in the fork of two rivers. On the S side is the river Coquet flowing W to E along a wide valley. To the W the ground rises gently to a ridge. Along the N side of the ridge, the Wreigh Burn flows eastwards curving around the E side of Thropton through a little dene to join the Coquet to the S. The site also commands the valley of the Back Burn a little to the N of the village. In the E and NE rise steep slopes of moorland. (5)
Roman Catholic presbytery and attached chapel, possibly on the site of a tower recorded in the survey of 1415. The tower may have formed part of Thropton Old Hall, demolished in 1811, or may have been a bastle. The presbytery was built circa 1811 and adjoins the east side of a church built in the late 18th/early 19th century. Listed Grades II* and II. (6)
Listed by Cathcart King and by Dodds. (7,8) |