The Bailie (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Ye Baile; Bailey; Balyhead; Baileyhead

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

OS Map Grid Reference: NY516777
Latitude 55.09136° Longitude -2.75986°

The Bailie has been described as a probable Pele Tower, and also as a probable Bastle.

There are no visible remains.

Description

A map in the British Museum, dated December 1590, has marked 'Ye Bailie' with a tower symbol. It is marked on the map immediately south of the confluence of Black Leuen and White Leuen (the Black and White Lyne) but the related positions of other towers, particularly Troughead (NY47NE6) and Comcrook (NY57SW2) suggest that the name White Leuen has been applied to that part of the Black Lyne eastwards of its confluence with Bailey Water. If this was so the map would indicate a position for this tower in the vicinity of Low Todholes (NY 519777)
There are no remains or any local knowledge of a tower in the area of Low Todholes (Field Investigators Comments–F1 BHP 02-APR-7).
A divination survey was undertaken in 1982 to the rear of Snouts Farm at NY518768. Further site identification required (Perriam and Robinson). (PastScape)

Comments

Several site proposed, Rear of Snouts Farm at NY518768. Peelsteads field or the Nook at NY520777 (although that suggestion can be dismissed). A reading of the crude map and consideration of stopping raiders returning with stolen cattle suggests the location should be around NY516777 where two fords (The Breakings) would be controlled. However, such house were mainly sited for other reasons (agricultural and tenurial) so further investigation certainly required.
Perriam and Robinson do not do themselves any credit by including a 'plan' based on the hokum of a divining survey.
Quite what is meant by the symbols on the Aglionby Platt is uncertain but a defensive building of some sort is probable. This could include three storey chamber blocks attached to halls (pele towers) or solidly built farmhouses of two storeys (bastles).

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 12953.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 4576.

Websites (Gatehouse is not responsible for the content of external websites.)
- Old Cumbria Gazetteer
Books
- Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 45
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 92
  Armstrong, A.M., 1950, The Place-Names of Cumberland, part 1 The City of Carlisle, and Eskdale, Cumberland, and Leath Wards (English Place-Name Society 20) p. 61
  Jeffrey, A., 1864, History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire Vol. 4 p. 232 (facsimile of map) online copy
Periodical Articles
- Jones, C.P., 1969, 'King James I and the Western Border' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 69 p. 129-51 online copy
  Harrison, J.V., 1967, 'Five Bewcastle wills' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 67 p. 103-4, 108-9 online copy
Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
- 1590, A Platt of the opposete Borders of Scotland to ye west marches of England (The Aglionby Platt) British Library online Gallery and Old Cumbria Gazetteer (see also Gatehouse Essay 'The Aglionby Platt')

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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of Historic England, County Historic Environment Records and other individuals and organisations. It may also contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes.
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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.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

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