Yett Yatt, a Wrought-Iron Gate Door
Yett or Yatt, a Wrought-Iron Gate Door, Typical of Border Strongholds A “Yett” was a wrought-iron door made by riveting thick iron bars together to form a strong latticework. This structure was then reinforced by…
Shot-Holes, Gun-Loops or Gun-Holes in Border Towers
Shot-Holes, Gun-Loops or Gun-Holes in Border Towers In response to the introduction of firearms in the 16th century, gun-loops, gun-holes or shot-holes as they were called in contemporary parlance, began to be a feature of…
Newel Stair / Turnpike Stair / Spiral Stair
Newel Stair / Turnpike Stair / Spiral Stair Newel stairs are so-called from the central continuous post or newel around which they spiral upwards. The protruding stair towers in which they were often housed gave…
Tower House
Generalities and Cut-Away Drawing of Tower-Houses by Pete Armstrong. The terms “Tower-House” and “Pele Tower” are the cause of some confusion. Though the terminology differs, the function of these buildings is similar and their form…
Pele Tower
Generalities, description and cut-away drawing of a Pele, Peel or Pele-Tower by Pete Armstrong Pele is derived from “pel” an Old French word for a stake. In early times many fortifications were constructed from wooden…
Harbottle Castle, Coquetdale, Northumberland
Harbottle Castle, Coquetdale, Northumberland Harbottle Castle, at the western end of a line of strongholds in Coquetdale, was in a position of importance in the defence of the Border. The castle is sited about eight…
Great Tosson Tower, Coquetdale, Northumberland
Great Tosson Tower, Coquetdale, Northumberland Great Tosson Tower stands close under the Simonside Hills in Coquetdale a mile or so above Rothbury. The tower was one of a series of fortifications guarding Coquetdale where its…
Ford Castle, Ford, Northumberland
Ford Castle, Ford, Northumberland Ford Castle stands about six miles below the Border in the valley of the river Till, a tributary of the Tweed. William Heron was given a licence to crenellate or fortify…
Etal Castle, Etal, Northumberland
Etal Castle, Etal, Northumberland Etal Castle stands about four miles below the Border on the river Till, a tributary of the Tweed. The castle is deserted and ruinous as it has been since James IV…
Elsdon Tower or Pele, Elsdon, Northumberland
Elsdon Tower or Pele, Elsdon, Northumberland Three miles east of Otterburn, the old grey pele-tower at Elsdon stands on the high bank of the Elsdon Burn and dominates the dwellings that fringe the village green.…
Vicar’s Pele, Corbridge, Northumberland
The Vicar's Pele at Corbridge, Northumberland The Vicar's Pele stands well preserved, repaired and re-roofed within the churchyard in Corbridge. It was first built in the early 14th century and we know that in 1415…
Woodhouse Tower, Kirtlebridge, Dumfriesshire
The ruins of Woodhouse Tower, Kirtlebridge, Dumfriesshire The ruins of Woodhouse Tower are situated on the opposite bank of the Kirtle Water to neighbouring Robgill and Bonshaw Towers. Only the north wall remains standing to…
Stapleton Tower, Annandale
Stapleton Tower, Annandale, Dumfriesshire view from the east This oblong 16th century tower stands three miles north-east of Annan. It consists of four storeys underneath a crenellated parapet, though this is a modern reconstruction probably…
