Burrow Walls near Seaton

Description

Wall fragments of a Medieval hall; the wall fabric incorporates Roman material. The monument and associated rectilinear ditches are visible as structures and earthworks on air photographs mapped as part of the North West Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey. The wall fragments appear to be still extant on the latest 1976 Ordnance Survey vertical photography. (PastScape)
The two medieval wall fragments, respectively 13.2m and 8.8m long and 3m maximum height form an L-shape. The facing stones have been almost completely removed leaving just the core, but it can be estimated that the walls must have been about 2m wide originally. At the angle between the two blocks there is a curving line of facing stones just above ground level indicative of a newel stair. The scale of the remains suggests a building of some importance, possibly a hall. (PastScape–ref. Blood and Lofthouse)

Near Workington, on the W. coast and close to the sea, there was a castle, once the seat of the Curwen family, who left it as early as the twelfth century, and removed to Workington Hall, on the other side of the Derwent River. A few remains exist, and are known as the Barrow Walls, being used for shooting-butts by the local volunteer force. The Curwens trace their descent from John de Tailbois, a brother of the Count of Anjou, before the Conquest. (Mackenzie 1896)

Comments

Mackenzie writes this was an early, C12 or earlier, masonry castle of the Curwen family, the early date for masonry work is probably fanciful, although the ready supply of Roman stone means it would not be impossible. Does not seem to be a manorial centre but, again, the ready supply of stone might have lead to building here. Suggested as a fortified hall house. On the banks of a mere used as a bird reserve and may have been built with falconry and exploiting this resource in mind.
Marked as Roman Fort on OS map. The masonry walls are medieval (but of Roman stone) within the earthworks of a Roman fort.