Blenkinsopp Hall (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Blenkinsop; Blenkensop; Blenkensopp; Dryburnhaugh

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

OS Map Grid Reference: NY68186412
Latitude 54.97073° Longitude -2.49881°

Blenkinsopp Hall has been described as a probable Pele Tower.

There are no visible remains.

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law*.

Description

Blenkinsopp Hall was a border fortalice, and in latter years, has had large additions made to it. The east tower was built in 1835 (Hodgson 1840).
Mrs Joicey, wife of the owner, Major Joicey stated that there are no remains of the old Tower in situ. The present structure consists of a large rectangular block, built of small, fashioned stones which may have come from the demolished tower. The north entrances and all drainpipes bear the date 1877. Just to the east of the main entrance, a very small window from the early building has been inserted into the wall. In the garden along the south-west face of the Hall, and near the south corner, are several fragments of carved stone, including a part of a decorated water spout. No other remains of an earlier building could be recognised in or around the present structure (F1 ASP 13-NOV-56). (PastScape)

Country house. c.1800 front range (possibly incorporating older core); rear additions and internal alterations of 1835 (possibly by John Dobson) and c.1877 (addition of parapets, porch and rebuilding of rear). Squared rubble front range with ashlar dressings; dressed and ashlar masonry on returns and rear; graduated green slate roofs and ashlar chimneys. Castellated style. (Listed Building Report)

Comments

Called vanished tower by King. There is no actual physical evidence of medieval building here. The name Blenkinsop Hall comes from the family of Blenkinsop of Blenkinsop Castle; the medieval name of the location was Dryburnhaugh. The fact Hodgson writes this was a border fortalice may suggest Hodgson had confabulated this Hall with Blenkinsop Castle which was called a fortalicium in the 1415 list. Certainly Hodgson cites no evidence to support his statement 'It was a border fortalice'. Hodgson's history starts in 1663. The Hall is in a park. Did this actually start as a hunting lodge in a park of the castle?

Sources of information, references and further reading

National Heritage List for England Listed Building number(s) 1370312
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 14087.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) N6121.

Websites (Gatehouse is not responsible for the content of external websites.)
- Wikipedia entry
Books
- King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 345
  Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 71
  Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 76
  Hodgson, J., 1840, History of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Part 2 Vol. 3 p. 133 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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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.

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