Structure Name: Hepburn Bastle

Description:
 

Tower house in poor repair, with a tunnel vaulted basement supporting two floors, which would have had a twin-gabled roof. At ground level it measures 16.6m by 10.8m, with walls over 2.5m thick (excepting the east wall, which is 35m thick), and vaulted entranceway in the south wall.
 

Extant: Yes

Legal Status: Listed Building Grade II*, Scheduled Ancient Monument

Location: Hepburn, NORTHUMBERLAND

Eastings: 407070m (view map)

Northings: 624880m (view map)

Position Accuracy: 10m

Positional Confidence: Absolute Certainty

Structure Types Identified: BASTLE, MANSION HOUSE, TOWER HOUSE

Historical Background
 

The first record of Hepburn Bastle is in 1509, but it is only after 1542 that it is called a tower house. Barely 20 years later it was being described as a mansion.

The house appears to have been unoccupied by 1755, following the death of Robert Hebburn.
 

Chronology:

• LATE 15TH CENTURY   Probable construction of bastle.
• LATE 16TH CENTURY   Wing constructed abutting the south face of the tower, possibly as part of its' growth into a mansion. Windows added.
• 17TH CENTURY AD   Windows added.
• EARLY 18TH CENTURY   Main doorway rebuilt.

Notes
 

Although a bastle in name, this structure is interpreted as a tower house.
 

References:

• Images of England
• Keys To The Past
• Northumberland SMR
• Pevsner, N., Richmond, I., Grundy, J., McCombie, G., Ryder, P. and Welfare, H. (2001) The Buildings of England: Northumberland. London, Penguin Books, p.230

The information displayed in this page has been derived from authoritative sources, including any referenced above. Although substantial efforts were made to verify this information, the SINE project cannot guarantee its correctness or completeness.

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