Tower House

TOWER HOUSE, TOW HOUSE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1156436
Date first listed:
27-Jul-1987
List Entry Name:
Tower House
Statutory Address:
TOWER HOUSE, TOW HOUSE
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Location

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Date:
2003-09-05
Reference:
IOE01/09959/20
Rights:
© Mr Kenneth Robinson. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1156436
Date first listed:
27-Jul-1987
List Entry Name:
Tower House
Statutory Address 1:
TOWER HOUSE, TOW HOUSE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
TOWER HOUSE, TOW HOUSE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Northumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Henshaw
National Grid Reference:
NY7674164332

Details

NY 76 SE
17/50


HENSHAW
TOW HOUSE
(East side)
Tower House


II*


Bastle, now house. Late C16 with late C18-early C19 rear outshut. Large
roughly-squared stones; roof has graduated stone tiles on front and purple
slates on rear; stone chimney stacks. Original entries, now blocked, on left
gable end and first-floor rear. 2 storeys, 2 bays. Massive boulder plinth
on front and returns. Huge roughly-squared quoins. Late C19 openings on
front: replaced door in flush surround with alternating jambs at right; replaced
sashes. Other small blocked window openings in front and returns are visible
from inside only. Steeply-pitched roof with overhanging eaves. Large square-
plan end stacks with top ledges and water tables; left end stack has re-set
head corbel above ledge. Left return: roll-moulded, square-headed doorway
with alternating jambs and massive lintel; chimney flue on stone relieving
arch inserted behind doorway; blocked loop towards rear and small blocked
opening above. Added rear outshut has late C20 fenestration; steeply-pitched
pent roof interrupted at left by horizontal dormer window.

Interior: c.l.5-metre thick walls; wide stone chimney flues on both gable
ends; several small blocked window openings with internal splays; ground-floor
room has adzed ceiling beams and a spiral stone stair to right of front door
(stair probably in situ and possibly a unique feature in a bastle-house); 2
first-floor rooms with ceiling beams of heavy scantling - room at right has
blocked doorway on rear; roof has heavy A-frame truss on a cambered tie beam;
blocked loops in attic flanking both chimney flues. Single-storey shed on
right return is not of special interest.

A well-preserved bastle with a possibly unique spiral stone stair.


Listing NGR: NY7674164332

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
240778
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Tower House

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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