Lanthwaite Peel Place (The Gatehouse Record)

In the civil parish of Buttermere.
In the historic county of Cumberland.
Modern Authority of Cumbria.
1974 county of Cumbria.
Medieval County of Cumberland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY160212
Latitude 54.57966° Longitude -3.30087°

Lanthwaite Peel Place has been described as a Pele Tower although is doubtful that it was such, and also as a probable Bastle.

There are earthwork remains.

Description

Turfed over wall foundations forming a broadly oval shape on the ground. South-east wall is cut into the angle of slope. North-west edge shows as a clear straight line. Site covers an area of approximately 21 x 8 meters. Relict tracks associated with the site are on the west and east sides, some have stone edging. A second wall bows outwards on the north-west edge creating a level semi circular platform out of which two large trees are growing. This measures 11 x 4 meters. A large stone 2 x 0.5 meters with two large corroded bolts set into it lies within area of the platform (Miscellaneous Note Book 1). OAN Oct 2007 - This site was depicted on the tithe map of 1844. OAN Site Visit May 2008 - The sub-circular enclosure measures 21m long by 16m wide and is defined by an earth and stone bank that is 1.25m wide and 0.4m high. Two sycamores grow at the northern side, and a stone gate stoop, measuring 2.4m long by 0.5m wide and 0.15m thick, with iron fittings had been discarded within the enclosure. The enclosure contains rectangular building platform (NTSMR 29614), which is probably later than the enclosure and may represent an outbuilding associated with the later farm. The position of this building platform gives the initial impression of a sub-divided enclosure, although this is not the case. Sub-ovoid building platform (NTSMR 29610) may have been associated with the enclosure. (National Trust HBSMR)

Comments

Perriam and Robinson record a speculated site of a pele tower at the given map reference (ref. Fair 1936). Peel Place (Ruin) is marked on the 1867 OS map, but does not occur in PastScape. The National Trust SMR records a Post medieval enclosure and farmstead at this location but not a tower. A romano-british settlement and enclosure is also recorded in the area. The term 'peel' is one used in various ways. Earlier authors have tended to think only in terms of small tower houses, which is probably unlikely for this site, but many 'peels' were modest pele-house type bastles which is more possibly for this site but pele could also just refer to some rough enclosure.

Sources of information, references and further reading

County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 23020.

Books
- Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 99
Periodical Articles
- Fair, Mary, C., 1936, 'Loweswater Pele and Parks' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 36 p. 126-8 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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