Crummock Water Manor House

Description

The moated site of Loweswater Peel is an unusual example of this class of monument. A natural feature - in this case a low hillock protruding into the lake - was modified by the cutting of ditches on its landward side, to create a moated site. The effort required was minimal but the result strikingly effective. The hillock will contain evidence of the medieval structure known to have existed here in the 12th century.
The monument includes the site of a medieval moated manor house known as Loweswater Pele, thought to be the home of Ranulphe de Lindesaye and his wife who were connected with Loweswater during the mid-12th century. It is situated on the western shore of Crummock Water on a rounded natural hillock which forms a peninsula of firm ground jutting into the lake. This peninsula is defended on the landward side by a system of banks and ditches; the ditches remain predominantly waterlogged. These earthworks are best preserved at the southern end where they comprise two ditches, or moats; the inner measures 11.5m wide the outer measures 6m wide. These are separated by an earthen bank 3.5m wide and up to 1.5m high. In addition there is a short length of outer bank approximately 60m long measuring 6m wide and up to 1.5m wide. The inner bank and moat continue northwards along the base of the hillock for approximately 170m with the bank itself gradually reducing in height and width before fading out altogether. The northern part of the hillock is defended by marshy ground within which no earthworks can now be seen. The manor house is thought to have been located on the lake side where there are the rectangular foundations of a hollow measuring 26m by 12m which has been interpreted as the cellar of a building. The Ordnance Survey maps, however, locate a 'peel' some 120m further west on the opposite side of the hillock where a ruined farmbuilding considered to be a successor to the earlier structure now stands. Adjoining this ruin are a number of other ruined structures and terraces cut into the hillslope which are interpreted as the site of outbuildings associated with the ruined farm. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Most archaeological databases call this site 'Loweswater Pele' but Gatehouse uses that name for a nearby possible pele tower. The possibility for confusion is obvious and care needs to be taken in regard to these sites and their associated records. The Crummock Water site is large and this possible pele is within the larger defensive circuit. It could, therefore, be contemporary with the manor house and represent ancillary accommodation.