Thornlaw Peel, Thornley

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Thornton, castellum de Thornauum

In the civil parish of Thornley.
In the historic county of Durham; County Palatinate of (Modern Authority of Durham, 1974 county of County Durham).

In 1143 Bishop William de St Barbe "made a place of defence on the spot which is called Thornlaw" in 1144 "the traitor Hugh Pinton surrended the Peel or Castelet of Thornlaw". Not refered to after 1152, and probably deserted after this date. Most probably on site of present Thornley Hall, which is naturally defensible. The DMV north of the Hall is a SAM and recorded in the PastScape.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Nothing visible remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NZ360383

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 1390467

County Sites and Monuments Record number; D3265

• Web site links
  • http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D3265
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles and Tower Houses of County Durham (Malvern) p58
    Jackson, M.J., 1996, Castles of Durham and Cleveland (Carlise) p61-2
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p139
    Page, Wm (ed), 1907, VCH Durham Vol2 p141-2
    Whellan, F., 1894 (2edn), History, Topography and Directory of the County of Durham p786-7
    Surtees, R., 1816-40 [1972 Reprint], History and Antiquities of Durham (London) Vol1 p83
    Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol1 p196-7; Vol3 p13