Kirkharle Hall

Description

The mansion house described as a tower in 1583 (Hodgson 1827).
A survey of c.1715 refers to a quadrangular tower with modern additions (Hodgson 1916).
It was demolished some years ago (pre 1902) except for the east end, which was converted into a farmhouse (Tomlinson 1902).
No trace of the tower survives at the published site, and there is no external evidence of any remains incorporated in the adjoining farmhouse and buildings (F1 BHP 24-AUG-1968).
Kirkharle Farmhouse Grade II. Early 19th century with older core. Interior has stone vaulted basement and one wall of great thickness (Listed Building Report).
Kirkharle Tower. First mentioned as a tower in 1722 (Long 1967). (Northumberland HER)

The mansion house described as a tower in 1583 (Hodgson 1827).
A survey of c.1715 refers to a quadrangular tower with modern additions (Hodgson 1916).
It was demolished some years ago (pre 1902) except for the east end, which was converted into a farmhouse (Tomlinson 1902).
No trace of the tower survives at the published site, and there is no external evidence of any remains incorporated in the adjoining farmhouse and buildings (F1 BHP 24-AUG-68).
The tower was built between 1455 and 1483 by Thomas Loraine. In 1722 Sir William Loraine constructed a mansion adjoining the old tower. However, the old part was largely demolished in 1836 (Dodds 1999; King 1983). (PastScape)

Kirkharle Tower. Though the manor house of Kirkharle is not mentioned in any list of the fortresses in Northumberland which I have seen, yet it occurs under the description of a tower, or capital messuage, in the inquisition, after the death of Robert Loraine, in the 25th of Eliz. and the "Genealogical Account" of the Loraine family, written in 1722, very properly designates them "of Kirkharle tower." Sir William I. "built a new mansion-house of his own plan and contrivance, with all the offices, out-houses, gardens, fountains, fish ponds, &c. (the first regular ones ever made in that country) belonging to them and sir William II. new roofed the body of the house, added two wings, and a suit of offices behind, and removed the fountains and gardens of his grandfather; but preserved the "tall forest trees" which shelter and diversify the adjoining ground, and drained the flat land on the north side of the house, the situation of which is low and shaded by a hill to the south; but the magic hand of Brown contrived to throw the sweetest charms into the fields of the place of his nativity, and to convert the landscape around the mansion of their lord into a "a woody theatre of stateliest view." (Hodgson 1827)

The Loraines made Kirkharle their home and their vocation for close on four hundred years. William and Johanna's grandson, Robert, was a conscientious law enforcement officer and because he knew he must be on the reivers' hit list, he built at tower to give him and his family some protection. It did not: he was murdered while walking home from church one Sunday morning in 1483. (Dodds 1999)

Comments

The form of this tower is not known. The tower does not occur in the C16 lists of fortifications which may suggest this was built at the end of the C16 and the description of it as 'quadrangular' may suggest a rectangular rather than square building and it could be this was a larger bastle type building (c.f. Doddington Bastle of 1584 and a similar social status). The 'Loraine Genealogy' seems to suggest a greater age for the tower but this may be more to do with creating the family kudos than historical reality. Dodds does not cite sources for his history but it seems to be derived, rather uncritically, from the Genealogy along with some inferences not actually supported by evidence. There was clearly a house of some form in the C15 and before, which may well have had some fortified elements, but whatever its form it was not included in the 1541 survey of fortifications.