Devils Causeway Tower, Netherwitton (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Highbush Wood

In the civil parish of Netherwitton.
In the historic county of Northumberland.
Modern Authority of Northumberland.
1974 county of Northumberland.
Medieval County of Northumberland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NZ11549120
Latitude 55.21482° Longitude -1.81982°

Devils Causeway Tower, Netherwitton has been described as a Pele Tower although is doubtful that it was such.

There are masonry footings remains.

Description

The Causeway (Devils Causeway) is faintly visible about 30 yards below the ruins of a cottage, where it emerges from the wood (Dixon's Wood) (MacLauchlan 1864).
The remains of an ancient Tower (Revision ONB 1921. p.2).
NZ 11549120. The remains of a structure are situated upn a ridge of afforested land at approximately 410ft above sea-level, with a good view in all directions. The site has been recently planted with youngfirs and was not closely investigated. The foundations, of small unknown stones, appear to be those of a small steading with a garth upon the south east side. The building was approximately 15.0m long, 8.0m wide. The walls do not appear to have been of any great strength. No fashioned stone is visible. In view of the lack of literary evidence, it is doubtful whether these remains are those of a tower. (F1 ASP 15-JAN-57)
Condition as given by ASP correct, the fragmentary remains of this building contain no material which could be associated with a tower, peel, castle or defended house of the type which are encountered in this county. MacLauchlan's supposition of a cottage is more probably correct (F2 FC 24-JAN-57).
Remains destroyed by deep furrow ploughing (F3 BHP 19-JUL-71). (PastScape)

This was the site of a medieval fortified tower. The foundations of the building were still visible until the 19th century, but ploughing has now destroyed them. (Keys to the Past)

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 23503.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) N11378.

Books
- King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 361 (reject)
  Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 137
  MacLauchlan, H. 1864, Memoir written during a survey of the eastern branch of the Watling Street (London) p. 12 online copy

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

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