Charlton Tower, Bellingham (The Gatehouse Record)

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

OS Map Grid Reference: NY80978488
Latitude 55.15789° Longitude -2.30012°

Charlton Tower, Bellingham has been described as a certain Pele Tower.

There are no visible remains.

Description

(Area NY 809809) The pele of the Charlton family stood where the most southerly house (of Charlton village stands, and the roads divide. Stones are still (1867) visible. The pele was standing within the memory of people yet (1867) living (Maclauchlan 1867).
The house is at NY 80978488. Some years ago, when lowering the floor of the washroom the flagstone flooring of the Pele was encountered about one foot down. there are no extant remains which can now be seen, but many worked stones are visible in the garden wall, and along the edge of the terrace (F1 ASP 9.7.56).
The Charlton' family built the pele at Hesleyside in the early 14th century, and this tower of theirs probably dates from the same time. It was partly decayed in 1799, when 'it wore an aristocratic expression as if it was the seat of a Border landowner.' (Dodds 1999). (PastScape)

A medieval tower house is known to have stood at Charlton and its remains were noted there in 1867. Although there is nothing visible today, the flagstone floor of the tower was revealed during alterations at Charlton House in the mid-20th century and many worked stones are visible in the garden walls and terrace. (Keys to the Past)

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 17120.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) N7978.

Books
- Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 122, 287
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 346
  Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 100
  Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 81
  Dodds, Madeleine Hope (ed), 1940, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 15 p. 252
  MacLauchlan, H., 1867, Notes not included in the memoirs already published on Roman roads in Northumberland: taken during a survey made by direction of the Duke of Northumberland (London) p. 71n3, 73n online copy
Periodical Articles
- Charlton, E., 1859, 'Notes on North Tynedale in 1279' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 3 p. 154 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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