longtowne (The Gatehouse Record of the Aglionby Platt)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Arthuret Knowles; Arthureth tower; Artruthe; Artruth; Arthrat; Langtowne

In the civil parish of Arthuret.
In the historic county of Cumberland, England.
Modern Authority of Cumbria, England.
1974 county of Cumbria, England.
Medieval County of Cumberland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY381674
Latitude 54.99794° Longitude -2.96968°

The given map reference is suggested as the probable location of longtowne shown on the Aglionby Platt.

There are no visible remains.

The likely form(s) of this building in 1590 are;

Chamber Tower (Pele Tower)
Pele House ('bastle').

Reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland

Description

During the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542, the Scottish troops retired to the tower at Arthuret but were quickly dislodged. A tower is shown on the 1552 map beside Arthuret. There is no reference to a fortified tower at the Mediaeval church. It is thought that it dated to C12 or C13. Moated earthworks which were probably associated with the tower have been destroyed by quarrying. (PastScape 1389979)

(NY 3788 6755 & 3830 6740) South of Longtown Church are two small hills covered with wood, called Arthuret Knowes. The top of the highest, which overhangs the river, is fortified by a small earthen rampart enclosing a space about 16 yards square (Skene).
There are earthworks here, but merely a natural glacial morraine. There is a good section visible in sandpits (Annotated Record Map Corr 6" (Miss K S Hodgson)).
A small square earthwork on summit, marked by shallow ditch, about 40ft each way. Western half has been destroyed by sand pits. This glacial mound (evidently the western mound, at the west end of which Sand Pit is shown on OS 6" 1957) is a remarkable view point and commands the river herabouts. Visited 18/6/39 (Rec 6" (O G S Crawford 25 5 34)). (PastScape 10819)

Moated earthworks destroyed by quarrying. Possible tower site. TCWAAS (2), viii, 234-46 describes and illustrates with a plan; site then considered pre-Conquest. TCWAAS (2), lii, 198 summarises and compares with Bromfield, Whitehall and Embleton. Dates it to the 12th and 13th century. TWCAAS (2), xxvi, 381-9 also deals with the site. VCH, ii, 274 states that during the battle of Solway Moss in 1542 'the Scottish troops, retiring upon Arthuret tower were quickly dislodged and forced across the Esk...' A tower (?) is shown on the 1552 map beside Arthuret Knowe. There is no reference to a tower on the medieval church. (Perriam and Robinson 1998 p. 226)
Stonehouse or tower site.
Shown with a tower symbol on the 1590 map and as a tower with two houses on the 1607 platt.
King lists this as a tower or bastle using the 1590 map as a source.
Further work necessary to establish site; could this be Athuret? (Perriam and Robinson 1998 p. 235)

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape (The online National Monument Record for England) Number 1389979; 10819; 1390034.

Books
- Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 226, 235
  Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 96 (slight)
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 93
  Wilson, J. (ed), 1905, VCH Cumberland Vol. 2 p. 274 online copy
  Jeffrey, A., 1864, History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire Vol. 4 p. 232 (facsimile of 1590 map) online copy
Periodical Articles
- 1952, 'Proceedings' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 52 p. 198 online copy
  Collingwood, W.G., 1926, 'Rockcliff Cross and the Knowes of Arthuret' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 26 p. 381-9 online copy
  Graham, T.H.B., 1914, 'The Debatable Land Part II' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 14 facing p. 148 online copy online copy of 1607 platt online copy of 1552 map
  Barnes, H. and Hodgson, T.H., 1908, 'On the Battle of Ardderyd. With Plan and description of the earthworks at Arthuret' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 8 p. 236-46 online copy
  Skene, W.F., 1864-6, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol. 6 p. 97 online copy
  Ellis, H., 1829, 'Copy of a manuscript tract addressed to Lord Burghley, illustrative of the Border topography of Scotland, AD 1590, with a platt or map of the Borders taken in the same year' Archaeologia Vol. 22 p. 161-71 online copy
Maps (Early maps)
- 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
  1607, Platt of the Forrest of Nicholl and the Mannor of Liddale, Arthurett and Randelinton with the Debatable groundes online copy
  Blaeu, J., 1654, 'Cumbria vulgo Cumberland' in Theatrum Orbis Terrerum, sive Atlas Novus, Vol.5; Scotice et Hibernia (Amsterdam) Map online copy

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The Gatehouse website record of

longtowne (Longtown)

a location shown on a 1590 map of the West Marches of Scotland (The Aglionby Platt)