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Settlement - Castles and Towers
 
Belton House, Park, Bellmount Tower
Belton House, Park, Bellmount Tower
Belton House, Park, Bellmount Tower

Viewing tower built by Viscount Tyrconnel c1751. Visual termination to the eastern avenue leading from Belton House.

DB 4 December 2017

Belton Kesteven, Belton House, Bellmount Tower
Belton House, Park, Bellmount Tower
Belton House, Park, Bellmount Tower
Belton House, Park, Bellmount Tower

Viewing tower built by Viscount Tyrconnel c1751. Visual termination to the eastern avenue leading from Belton House.

Inscription on this side of the tower reads "BELLMOUNT 1750". 

DB 4 December 2017

Belton Kesteven, Belton House, Bellmount Tower
Boston, Hussey Tower
Boston, Hussey Tower
Boston, Hussey Tower

The Hussey Tower, close to the centre of Boston (TF 331436), is one of the earliest brick buildings in Lincolnshire (c1460).

It was built by Richard Benyngton JP as part of a larger domestic complex.

Among the surviving architectural features of interest are a brick vaulted ceiling and an octagonal stair turret.

It is in the care of the Heritage Trust for Lincolnshire on behalf of the owners, Boston Borough Council.

Postcard, c1910
Boston, tower, benyngton,
Boston, Hussey Tower
Boston, Hussey Tower
Boston, Hussey Tower

"The ruined Hussey Tower is all that remains of a medieval brick fortified house, built in 1450, and occupied by John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford until he was executed in the wake of the Lincolnshire Rising"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston,_Lincolnshire 

"The house is believed to have been built in the mid- to late 15th century for Richard Bennington; `Richard Benyngton Toure' being mentioned in a rental of 1489.

The tower, a Listed Building Grade II, was later owned by Lord Hussey, and following his death, in 1537, the estate was granted to the Corporation of Boston.

A gatehouse was demolished in 1565, and repairs were made to the remainder of the buildings, which were then rented by Joseph Whiting.

In the early 18th century further buildings were dismantled including the domestic range adjoining the tower, and in 1728 the lead and timber were removed from the tower"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1016692 

DB 5 June 2019 

Boston, Hussey Tower
Carlton Scroop, Repeater Station
Carlton Scroop, Repeater Station
Carlton Scroop, Repeater Station

"BT Archives has a reference to the foundations being excavated in October 1965"

http://www.dgsys.co.uk/btmicrowave/sites/150.php 

"part of a cold war emergency microwave communications system, 'Backbone'"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_Scroop 

Tower is still in active use.

DB 16 April 2018

Carlton Scroop, Repeater Station, microwave, Backbone, Cold War, BT, Tower
Castle Bytham, Castle
Castle Bytham, Castle
Castle Bytham, Castle

These earthworks are thought to be the remains of the Norman Castle which took advantage of a naturally defensive site which was improved by the building of ditches and a Motte and Bailey.

Further developments including an outer Bailey have made this site complex and difficult to interpret.

Castle Bytham, norman,
Dunston, Dunston Pillar
Dunston, Dunston Pillar
Dunston, Dunston Pillar

Stands beside the A15 Sleaford Road near the junction with B1178 Tower Lane. 

Built by Sir Frances Dashwood 1751 as a land lighthouse to improve the safety of travellers. 

Originally 92 feet high.

The lantern on the top was destroyed in a storm 1808 and replaced 1810 by an oversize Coade stone statue of George III (sculptor Joseph Panzetta) to celebrate 50 years of the King's reign.

Statue removed and tower reduced in height 1940 to prevent any danger to low flying aircraft using RAF Coleby Grange.

Surviving bust of George III now displayed in the grounds of Lincoln Castle. 

DB 5 April 2018

Dunston, Pillar, Land Lighthouse, Sir Francis Dashwood, Coade Stone, George III, Joseph Panzetta
Dunston, Dunston Pillar, Inscription
Dunston, Dunston Pillar, Inscription
Dunston, Dunston Pillar, Inscription

Remains of an inscription visible on the front face of Dunston Pillar.

The words

"KING GEORGE THE THIRD"

are still clearly legible. 

DB 5 April 2018

Dunston, Pillar, Inscription, King George III
Hough on the Hill, Castle Hill
Hough on the Hill, Castle Hill
Hough on the Hill, Castle Hill

"Castle Hill (now occupied by the Parish Church) is the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The substantial motte is largely intact except for the western edge where the former playground has cut into the side.

Traces of earthworks around the church and churchyard may pre-date the conquest, or could have been part of the ditch to the bailey"

http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15756&p=0 

DB 26 June 2018

Hough on the Hill, Castle Hill
Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle

The Norman Castle at Lincoln was built by William the Conqueror in the late-eleventh century on the site of a Roman structure.

It is owned by Lincolnshire County Council and is used for outdoor concerts and the annual Christmas Market.

Undated postcard

Buildings,
Old Bolingbroke, Castle
Old Bolingbroke, Castle
Old Bolingbroke, Castle

Bolingbroke Castle was built in the early 13th century to a hexagonal plan, with five towers and a gatehouse.

The future King Henry IV was born here in 1366. Besieged and taken by Parliamentary forces in 1643, the towers and walls were later largely demolished, preventing further use of the castle.

This view across the moat from the SW shows the remains of two of the towers, and in the distance Old Bolingbroke church.


Frank Robinson, 2011

Old Bolingbroke, castle, Henry IV, English Heritage,
Owston Ferry, Castle
Owston Ferry, Castle
Owston Ferry, Castle

"It is thought that the original castle on this site was erected soon after the Norman Conquest but that it was dismantled in 1095.

It was rebuilt in 1173 by Roger de Mowbray to support Prince Henry in the conflict with his father Henry II who subsequently had the castle destroyed.

The site of the motte remains as a broad grassy mound.
 
The surrounding area is now a Local Nature Reserve"
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owston_Ferry_Castle 
 
Otherwise known as Kinaird motte and bailey castle.
 
DB 2 September 2018
Owston Ferry, Castle, Roger de Mowbray, motte
Owston Ferry, Castle
Owston Ferry, Castle
Owston Ferry, Castle

View from the castle's motte with St Martin's Church built in what had been the castle's bailey. 

DB 2 September 2018

Owston Ferry, Castle, St Martin Church, bailey
Somerton Castle
Somerton Castle
Somerton Castle

This quadrangular castle with circular towers at the corners was built in 1281 by Antony Bek, Bishop of Durham. King John of France was imprisoned in the castle in 1359-60.

Parts of three towers remain. An Elizabethan wing was added to the SE tower.

Boothby Graffoe,
Somerton Castle
Somerton Castle
Somerton Castle

"Although Somerton Castle is in the parish of Boothby Graffoe, it is in the Manor of Waddington and this portion is often referred to as the Manor of Somerton Castle.

Antony Bek probably built the castle in 1281 and he gave it to King Edward II in 1309.

King John II of France was imprisoned at Somerton Castle between 1359 and 1360, having been taken prisoner after the Battle of Poitiers.

It continued as crown property until it was sold by Charles I in 1628, since when the castle has continued in private ownership"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerton_Castle 

DB 1 December 2020

Boothby Graffoe, Somerton Castle, Antony Bek, King John II of France
South Kyme, Kyme Tower
South Kyme, Kyme Tower
South Kyme, Kyme Tower

Mid C14 fortified tower house built for Sir Gilbert de Umfraville. The attached house was demolished between 1720 and 1725.

DB 18 September 2011

South Kyme, Tower, Sir Gilbert de Umfraville
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower

"Tattershall Castle has its origins in either a stone castle or a fortified manor house, built by Robert de Tattershall in 1231.

This was largely rebuilt in brick, and greatly expanded, by Ralph, 3rd Lord Cromwell, Treasurer of England, between 1430 and 1450"

"Of Lord Cromwell's castle, the 130 foot (40 metre) high Great Tower and moat still remain.

It is thought that the castle's three state rooms were once splendidly fitted out and the chambers were heated by immense Gothic fireplaces with decorated chimney pieces and tapestries"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattershall_Castle,_Lincolnshire  

Viewed from the northeast. 

DB 28 August 2019

Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower

Great Tower viewed from the west.

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1856 states :-

"A little to the S.W. of the town, stand the remains of TATTERSHALL CASTLE, which was erected about the year 1440, by the Lord Treasurer Cromwell, whose annual expenditure is stated to have been £5000, his household comprising 100 persons; and when be rode to London, he had in his suite generally 120 horsemen.

He is said to have expended 4000 marks in building the towers of this castle, which was surrounded by two fosses, and a great part of the inner one, faced with brick, still remains.

It was an extensive and formidable fortress, but was dilapidated in the wars between Charles I. and his parliament.

The part now remaining is one of the finest and most perfect specimens of ancient brickwork in the kingdom, being a rectangular tower, 100 feet high, divided into four stories, and flanked by four octagonal turrets.

It is raised on ponderous arches, forming spacious vaults, which extend through the angles of the building, into the bases of the turrets.

The walls are of great thickness; and the windows are of the pointed order, well proportioned, and containing tracery.

In the south-east turret is a staircase of 181 steps, ascending to the top of the fourth story, which was covered by a grand platform, or flat roof, which together with the several floors, is entirely destroyed, though the massive battlements, with the strong arched parapets, are in good preservation.

Three of the turrets are terminated by cones, covered with lead, but the cone of the fourth turret is gone.

On the ground floor is an elegant carved stone chimney piece, embattled and ornamented alternately with arms and treasury purses, with the motto, "nay je droit.""

DB 28 August 2019

Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower

Great Tower viewed edge on from the south.

"Castle, now monument owned by National Trust. c.1440 built for Ralph Cromwell, Lord High Treasurer, on site of castle built by Robert Tateshale in 1231.

Restored in 1911-25 by Lord Curzon.

Red brick tower in English bond, with darker lattice lozenge decorations to upper parts, ashlar dressings, leaded roofs" 

DB 25 June 2018

Tattershall Castle, Great Tower
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower (2), Second Floor, Dovecote
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower (2), Second Floor, Dovecote
Tattershall Castle, Great Tower (2), Second Floor, Dovecote

Local signage in the Audience Chamber states :-

"The south east turret contains an eighteenth century dovecote built by farmers during the castles ruination inside what was the entrance room to Lord Cromwell's private garderobe.

The wood and clay dovecote contains 250 nest boxes"

DB 1 July 2019

Tattershall, Castle, dovecote
Tattershall Castle, Stable Block
Tattershall Castle, Stable Block
Tattershall Castle, Stable Block

"Reputedly stable block, now ruins. c.1440"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1215319 

Local signage states :-

"This two storey building would have been home to the Master of the Horse and other minor officers.

Accommodation would have been on the first floor and the horses kept on the ground floor where a gully runs down the centre for drainage"

DB 28 August 2019

Tattershall Castle, Stable Block
Tattershall Castle
Tattershall Castle
Tattershall Castle

An illustration of Tattershall Castle in romantic style at about the time of its restoration by Lord Curzon of Kedleston in 1911.

The huge red brick keep, 110 ft high, was part of an extensive castle built by Ralph Lord Cromwell in c1435.

The upper parts of the building were designed for defence - contrary to most great houses of the day, but possibly reflecting Cromwell's great power and unpopularity (Pevsner).

Postcard, c1910

Tattershall,
Torksey, Castle
Torksey, Castle
Torksey, Castle

Torksey Castle was built in the middle of the sixteenth century by the wealthy Jermyn family of Suffolk, possibly as a convenient resting place on the road to York.

In August 1645 during the English Civil War it was almost totally destroyed by Parliamentarians.

The west front and part of the kitchen range are all that remain of this once impressive country house.
 

Torksey, Castle, Jermyn
Welbourn, Castle Hill Ringwork
Welbourn, Castle Hill Ringwork
Welbourn, Castle Hill Ringwork

Welbourn Castle survives only in the form of earthworks. The Historic England listing states :-

"The ringwork is roughly D-shaped in plan and is enclosed by a bank and external ditch.

The central area measures approximately 60m in width and lies at about the same level as the surrounding ground.

The interior formerly accommodated the buildings referred to in a document of 1288, including a hall with two chambers, a kitchen, brewhouse, oxhouse, cowshed and sheep fold.

The document also indicates that there was a wall, surmounted by a tower, and a ditch around the court"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1020436

DB 26 March 2018 

Welbourn, Castle Hill ringwork
Woodhall Spa, Tower On The Moor
Woodhall Spa, Tower On The Moor
Woodhall Spa, Tower On The Moor

The tower was probably built in the mid-15th century as a hunting lodge for Ralph Lord Cromwell whose castle was located 4 miles to the south at Tattershall.

 

Only this octagonal stair turret remains. Built largely of brick laid in English bond.

 

Located at National Grid Reference TF 21091 63981 at the edge of the Hotchkin Golf Course.

 

DB 21 November 2019

Woodhall Spa, Tower On The Moor, Ralph Lord Cromwell, Hunting Lodge