Chesterton Tower

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; The Abbey; Rectory Farn

In the civil parish of Cambridge.
In the historic county of Cambridgeshire (Modern Authority of Cambridgeshire, 1974 county of Cambridgeshire).

Mid C14 rectangular building; 2 storeys; stone, some brick; hip gabled tile roof; with lower storey vaulted in 2 bays with hollow chamfered ribs and carved bosses; some original windows; old fireplace etc; severe restoration in 1949 when the old dressed clunch was replaced with Ketton stone. The roof is modern but with some re-used timbers. The building belonged probably to the procurator of the abbot of Vercelli and is a rare example of the home of a foreign appropriator. Has two octagonal stair turrets which give a mild impression of strength but not a defensible building.

This site has been described as a;
Tower House.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Questionable.
Major remains.

This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 47395)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL46295979

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; 371212

Web site links
- http://www.cambridge2000.com/cambridge2000/0006/html/P6191410.html
Books
- Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern) p18
  Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses Vol2 (Cambridge) p77
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p298 [plan]

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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English Heritage and other individuals and organisations.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.

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This record last updated on Friday, April 6, 2007

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