Coniston Hall, Near Coniston

Coniston Hall
Near Coniston
Cumbria

A building on or near this site was original the seat of the Urswick family until around 1250, and then, with the building of the hall and possibly a fortified tower of some sort in the early 15th century, it became the seat of the Fleming family. The hall sits at the Northern tip and on the West banks of Coniston Water, and is visible from Brantwood across the water on the East bank. The hall consists of a West wing which contains a living room, sitting room and a central kitchen. The central block consists of the original kitchen area, a dairy under the hall, and an old byre\barn area. The East wing contains a newel stair in the outside wall, which may suggest that there could have been a tower here.

Above. A view of the hall from the East banks of Coniston. Photo by kind permission of Tony Richards (see the link below)

It is this wing, hidden behind the trees to the left of the photo, that could have been the location of the tower.....the walls here are thick, but the basic layout of this wing is broken, and has been altered over the years, with a partial restore taking place in around 1815. Several documents mention the remains of buildings to the South West and West of the hall....but it is thought that, rather than being the remains of out buildings, or even the original Urswick family tower, they are probably the earthwork remains of fish ponds. The Fleming family eventually left Coniston Hall for larger, more modern accommodation at Rydal....but the hall was maintained by the family as a hunting lodge up until the early 1700's. I'm not sure what the access rights to the hall and the grounds are, so when I find this out, I'll update this post.

Check Tony's Lakeland Cam website for daily photo updates. If you're stuck behind a desk on a bright sunny day, this is the place to cheer yourself up with. Thank you for letting me use your photo Tony!

There is some really good information at this link regarding Coniston, the Hall, the Flemings and the surrounding areas.

Check this link out for a detailed plan of the hall.

Leighton Hall, Yealand Conyers

Leighton Hall
Yealand Conyers
Lancashire

Situated about three miles North of Carnforth in Lancashire, stunning Leighton Hall has been watching over the surrounding countryside for over seven hundred years. There is mention of a fortified house built here in 1246 by Adam d'Avranches. Adam's grandson changed his name to Adam Yealand, the surname of his cousin, Sir Henry de Redmayne, who in turn was the son of Norman de Yealand of Redmayne, thereby providing the name of the two small villages that lay less than a quarter of a mile apart....Yealand Conyers, and Yealand Redmayne. The lands were granted to the d'Avranches family by the Barons of Kendal.

Above. A view of the hall from the South East.

The hall we see today, is the result of a massive rebuild in 1763, prompted by the near total destruction at the hands of Government troops after the 1715 Jacobite rebellion. Albert Hodgson, owner of the hall and its estates after 1708, was staunchly Catholic, and as such, backed the Jacobite's attempt at overthrowing the Hanoverian monarchy and government. Unfortunately for Albert, he was captured by government troops at Preston in 1715. The hall was then confiscated from the family and hall was sacked and burned.

Above. The South face of Leighton Hall.

In 1722, the hall was sold at public auction and purchased by a family friend. It was presented back to Albert Hodgson. When he was finally released from jail, he moved back to Leighton Hall. It wasn't until the 1760's however, that the hall was re-built. Albert's daughter, Mary, married a wealthy businessman, George Townley of Townley Hall near Burnley. With his finances, and Mary's vision, the hall was rebuilt and magnificent gardens laid out. Mary and George had no children, so when they both died, the hall and its vast gardens were sold in 1805, to Alexander Worswick of Ellel Grange. Alexander worked as a banker in Lancaster, and was married to Alice Gillow.

Above. The mock chapel...actually built as stables.

This was to be the start of the Gillow family's association with Leighton Hall. The hall was sold in 1822 to Richard Gillow, who was the grandson of Robert Gillow founder of the Gillow furniture company. Richard was responsible for Leighton Hall's Gothic facade that we see today. This 'new look' for the house was erected between 1822 and 1825.

Above. The Paley and Austin tower, added in 1870.

The hall was inherited by Richard's son, Richard Thomas Gillow in 1849. Richard Thomas died in 1906, and was responsible for the building of the catholic church of St Mary at Yealand. Before this, the chapel at Leighton Hall would have been used for mass and other Catholic services. Richard Thomas was also responsible for the addition of the Victorian wing of the hall, the huge tower designed by Paley and Austin (shown above)

Above. The Gothic porch, possibly built by Thomas Harrison.

Richard Thomas reached a stage in his later life, where he was reluctant to carry out any repairs on the hall, and it slowly started to slide into disrepair. When he finally died, his son Charles Richard Gillow appears to have inherited a fairly run down building.

Above. Another view of the Paley and Austin West tower.

Charles took on the running of the hall but died in 1923. When his widow died in 1966, it then passed on to Helen Gillow, soon to become Helen Gillow-Reynolds. The hall is still in the Gillow family, although the family name is now Gillow-Reynolds.

Check the official Leighton Hall web site for further information.

Eller barrow, Pennington

Eller barrow
Pennington
Cumrbria

This possible barrow mound is to be found about a quarter of a mile to the East of the church of St Michael at Pennington. Visible both from the roadside about a hundred yards to the South West, and from the railway bridge to the South, it stands out on the flat flood plain that extends West and East of Barn Beck.

Above. A view of the barrow from the railway bridge to the South.

It is described as a tumulus, with a base measuring some four hundred feet in circumference, with a maximum height of around fifty feet. Some sources state that it is probably a 'spoil heap' from either the building of the nearby railway, or an earlier field clearance.

Above. A view of the barrow from the roadside to the South West.

The barrow, or mound, depending on who you believe, is easily accessible from the road side, although there is little or no parking here. The best place to view it, and to ponder its antiquity, is from the railway bridge, which affords unbroken views across the flood plain.

Glen of the Bar, New Galloway Forest

Glen of the Bar
New Galloway Forest
Near Newton Stewart
Dumfries and Galloway
Scotland

Situated some seven or so miles North East of Newton Stewart on the A712, the Glen of the Bar is a magnificent tree clad gully, that runs for about three quarters of a mile North East to South West. It follows the line of a beck that eventually runs into Palnure Burn. Numerous finds of animal bones have been found at the end of the gully, prompting historians to suggest that early peoples of the area herded wild animals into the steep sided ravine, and then hurled stones and spears at them to kill them.

As with many spots along the A712, there is parking at this spot, and a specially created walkway that takes you out over the North Western tip of the gully, affording excellent views across its tree lined sides and base. This is yet another worth while stop off point on this road.

Hole of Horucm, Near Lockton

Hole of Horcum
Near Lockton
North Yorkshire Moors
North Yorkshire

Situated on the West side of the A169, South of Sleights and North of Lockton, the Hole of Horcum is a natural amphitheater, some three quarters of a mile across, and over four hundred feet deep. There is a fantastic vantage point with specially created viewing points where the A169 runs around the North Easter tip of the hole. From here, it is possible to see, as shown below, to the far Northern, Western and Southern sides of the hole, along with all the pathways and features that this area is famous for.

Above. Looking South West across the Hole of Horcum.

The floor of this immense feature, is littered with the earthwork remains of medieval and earlier enclosures, medieval dykes, ruined buildings, the remains of settlements, field systems and cairns.

Above. A view of the bottom of the Hole of Horcum, showing the footpath running alongside Levisham Beck.

Follow this link for photos of a walk through the Hole of Horcum towards Skelton Tower.
And more excellent photos here.

Castlehowe Scar Stone Circle, Shap

Castlehowe Scar stone circle (sometimes referred to as Harkeld)
Near Shap
Cumbria

This tiny stone circle lies about a mile East of Shap (off the A6) along the B road from Shap to Crosby Ravensworth. The circle sits in front of, and to the West of a small scar called Castlehowe Scar, which is now covered with trees.

Above. A close up view of the major stones of the circle.

Although this is, relatively speaking, a tiny circle (it is perhaps only about ten feet across) it is really part of a larger collection of circles and megaliths in this area. Other sites include Kemp Howe to the West and Gamelands to the South, as well as numerous single standing stones and burial mounds.

Above. Some of the many 'erratics' scattered throughout the field.

The circle consists of a collection of ten stones, including an 'outlier' to the North East (not shown here) One of the stone still stands to over a metre in height, whilst the rest have fallen. All the stones are of Shap Granite, which seems to be the predominant type of rock in this location. There are plenty of other stones laying on the surface of this field, some arranged tantalisingly in smaller circles.

Above. Looking East, over the circle and towards Castlehowe Scar.

This circle is dated by Pastscape, to the Bronze Age.

Above. A view of the circle looking South.

Although the circle lies on a private field, it can be viewed from the roads to the North and the East, and from common land which lies to the South....there's also plenty of parking nearby.

Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick

Castlerigg Stone Circle
Keswick
Cumbria

If you can visit this stone circle, out of the holiday season, with no-one else around, you are far more likely to appreciate the atmosphere and spectacle of the place. This is probably one of the UK's most beautifully situated stone circles, and is only about a mile East of Keswick, handily accessible just off the A66.

Above. Photo of the circle looking North East towards Blencathra. Great Mell Fell can be seen at the far right of the photo.

Castlerigg is an almost complete stone circle, with views out across the lakeland fells to all sides. In fact, the panoramic views of the lakeland fells contribute greatly to this particular circle. It isn't hidden away as some circles are, it isn't pressed up against a field wall, or hidden beneath dense undergrowth....but instead is open to all points of the compass with some of the best views of Blencathra to North, the Derwent Fells to the South West, Matterdale Common to the South East and Skiddaw to the North West.

Above. Looking North towards Lonscale Fell.

The circle consists of around 38 stones...possibly anything up to 42 if some of the smaller stones that are now poking through the eroded soil are counted. The heaviest stone is thought to weigh in at around sixteen tonnes whilst the tallest stone stands to nearly two and a half metres. Castlerigg is actually a 'flattened' circle, and measures around thirty two and a half metres at its widest point, and twenty nine and a half metres at its narrowest point.

Above. On my hands and knees looking North towards Lonscale Fell and Blencathra.

Some estimates put the stone circle as being built around 3200BC, making it one of the earliest stone circles in the whole of the British Isles and possibly even the whole of Europe. To the South West of the circle, a lone stone, possibly rescued from beneath the surface of the field, has been erected against the field wall. It bears the scars of many years of plough damage, and indeed, aerial shots of the plateau that the circle sits on, show the familiar marks of ridge and furrow to the North and West of the stones.

Above. A view of the small enclosure in the centre of the circle.

The small enclosure, shown above, sits at the Eastern most part of the interior of the circle, and is sometimes referred to as the Sanctuary. It's not known exactly what this collection of twelve stones would have been for.

The circle is open any time, and there is ample parking very near by. The walk from the roadside to the circle is only about a hundred yards, but may be very wet and muddy if it's been raining.

Furness Abbey gatehouse and precinct wall, Barrow in Furness

Furness Abbey gatehouse and precinct wall
Barrow in Furness
Cumbria

The remains of this gatehouse to Furness Abbey can be found to the South West of the abbey remains, and consists of two upstanding portions of a building either side of the narrow road, and a low wall running to the North West and the South East. This would not have been the main entrance into the abbey precincts, but a lesser gateway. The main entrance was to the North of the abbey and is not shown here.

Above. Looking North East through the remains of the gatehouse.

The gatehouse appears to have consisted of a simple building through which traffic would have passed, impeded by doors at each end of the thirty foot building (as evidenced by jambs on the external and internal walls) There doesn't appear to be any evidence for rooms built into this gatehouse....it looks as though it was a simple postern type structure, providing another way in and out of the abbey precincts.

Above. Looking South West through the gatehouse. The precinct wall can be seen running to the left of the photo.

As shown in the image above, the precinct wall still survives to a height of around five feet on the left of the photo, as it disappears up the hill.

Above. The precinct wall can just be seen emerging from behind and above the gatehouse wall.

The precinct wall shown below, survives to a height of around four feet immediately behind the house, but as it continues into the dip to the left of the photo, it drops to around three feet and is not in particularly good condition.

Above. The precinct wall, both repaired\rebuilt and possibly original running to the North West.

In the image below, two distinct phases of building can be seen in the wall. A newer, rebuilt wall runs from the right of the photo, from the gatehouse wall, behind the house and to about half way across the photo....then an older portion of wall can be seen. This continues out of shot to the let, and quite possible represents all that is left of the original wall.

Above. Another view of the precinct wall running from the North West side of the gatehouse.

Above. The precinct wall can be seen running over the brow of the hill.

The wall in the above photo, is in such poor condition in places that it appears to have vanished in a few places and has been replaced by fencing. The best view of the walls are from the gatehouse to the South West of the abbey, whilst the gatehouse can be viewed from the road down towards the abbey car park.

Cartmel Priory Precinct Wall, Cartmel

Cartmel Priory Precinct Wall
Cartmel
Cumbria

Very little remains of the wall that once surrounded the precincts of Cartmel Priory...it was mostly destroyed after the dissolution of the monasteries in the mid 1500's. The only secular building remaining is the gatehouse, and possibly some small portions of the walls, running to the North West and North of the town of Cartmel.

Above. A view of the gatehouse from the South.

The 14th century gatehouse marks the Southern boundary of the Priory precincts, the walls of which would once have encircled an area of around twenty two acres of land.

Above. Looking North up Greenbank Lane.

The wall on the right of this photo is built on the line of the precinct wall. It's possible that much of the material in this wall is from the original 14th century wall, although it's been much rebuilt and reduced in height.

Above. A view of the wall looking South down Greenbank Lane.

Here the wall turns East, following the line of the original precinct wall. The wall is around fifteen feet high, and continues into the field to the left.

Above. Looking from the field onto Greenbank Lane.

In the above photo, two distinct phases of building can be seen. The wall nearest the road, and darker in colour is most likely of more recent build. The wall to the left of the photo, and lighter in colour, may well represent some of the surviving portion of the original 14th century wall. Here the stones are larger and lacking mortar.

Above. A view of the wall as it disappears into the field running East off Greenbank Lane.

In the above photo, the two phases of building can again be seen. The wall continues into the field, but at a much reduced height.

Above. Another view of the wall running East into the field.

Here the wall stands to around four feet high, and is in a much poorer state of repair. It's possible that this portion of the wall represents the last standing parts of the original 14th century precinct walls.

Aldingham Grange, Aldingham

Aldingham Grange
Aldingham
Cumbria

Some much better photos, in my opinion, of the moated manor of Aldingham Grange. The new footpath leading right down to the side of the moat mean that much better views can now be had of the remains.

Above. A good wide angle view of the moat and the central earthwork from the South.

Above. A view of the West side of the moat from the roadside, with the motte visible in the background.

Above. Another view of the moat from the roadside.

Aldingham Moat Hill , Aldingham

Moat Hill
Aldingham
Cumbria

I managed to find a dry day to take some more photos of the motte and bailey castle at Aldingham, and the nearby moated manor. The photos are, in my own humble opinion, the best I've taken of this site, and were aided by the new access that the land owner seems to have provided. The footpath that runs East from the A5087 is unchanged, but once onto the coastal path, and walking North towards the castle earthworks, the narrow path is marked on either side by an electric fence. Where it meets the motte, the path then continues down the hill towards the moated manor, giving good access and views of the water filled moat.

Above. The motte can be seen to the right of the deep ditch that survives to a depth of about four feet, running West to East for about a hundred yards.

Above. Another view of the deep, straight ditch to the North of the motte.

Above. A closer view of the North face of the motte, with the ditch visible to the left.

Above. A view of the Southern face of the motte from the newly created footpath.

Above. A view of the motte taken from the roadside about a quarter of a mile to the North. The moated manor can just be seen in the bottom left corner of the photo.

Above. A view of the motte from the roadside.

There is very little parking at the roadside, and I'm not so sure that residents are keen for visitors to use what little is available. If you don't want to walk the mile or so to the castle, it can be viewed over the hedges from the roadside.

Above. Old map of the motte, its bailey and the grange to the North.

Both the motte and the grange were held by the Fleming family as part of the Honour of Lancaster up until 1227, after which it passed into the hands of the Abbot of Furness. The De Harrington family were granted the rights to empark in 1341, possibly creating a dear park for hunting. This may have also included the estates of nearby Gleaston Castle.

Check this link, Aldingham Motte find report, for a great run down of finds excavated from the motte and the surrounding area.

Dallam Tower, Dallam Nr Kendal

Dallam Tower
Dallam Near Kendal
Cumbria

Dallam Tower and its parks can be found about a half a mile to the West of Milnthorpe and the A6. The parks surrounding the hall boast an impressive herd of semi-wild deer, miles of walks, and the remains of a possible motte and bailey castle overlooking Milnthorpe.

Originally there was a fortified tower here, built sometime during the 1370's, by the de Thweng family. The Haverbrack family then took over the site, adding a hall block to the tower, which was in turn replaced by another range of buildings by William Thornborough during the 16th century.

Above. View of Dallam Tower from the deer park.

The Orangry, which can be seen at the far left of the above photo, is reputed to stand on the site of the fortified tower. Dallam Tower as we see it today, was built by Daniel Wilson from 1720 onwards, with the original tower and the later hall demolished in about 1720\23 The hall underwent some cosmetic changes in 1826 at the hands of Kendalian architect George Webster.

The grounds are full of deer and provide a good couple of miles of walks.

Rampside Hall, Rampside

Rampside Hall
Rampside
Near Barrow in Furness
Cumbria

Rampside Hall, known locally as "the twelve apostles" owing to its dozen chimneys, is an oddity. Built sometime in the 1600's (possibly in 1634), the hall sits amongst houses built in the last fifty years, and seems to be the only remnant of times past in the area.

It can easily be viewed from Roa Island Road which hugs the coast. It was probably built for the Knype family, and in 1649 it was noted that Rampside Hall was the home of the Papist, John Knipe. It has a simple floor plan spread over three floors. According to the Images of England web site, and a report of 1969, the hall retains many original features, including a well in the basement, timber partitioned rooms, an oak staircase and a couple of original fireplaces. The hall has a strong central cross wall creating the four basic rooms on each floor, inserted when the building was erected, to house the twelve fireplaces. The hall was re-roofed in 1810, at which point it would appear that a mock parapet that ran right around the roof line, was removed.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh
Scotland

Above. View of the Castle from Johnston Terrace.

Above. View of the castle from Granny's Green Steps.

Above. A view of the castle from Grassmarket.

Above. A view of the castle from the top of Heriot Place.

Above. A view of the castle from Heriot Place, just in front of the Flodden Wall Tower.