Barden Tower

In the civil parish of Barden.
In the historic county of Yorkshire West Riding (Modern Authority of North Yorkshire, 1974 county of North Yorkshire).

The ruins of a late C15 tower house built by Sir Henry Clifford. Further remodelling was carried out between 1658 to 1659 by Lady Anne Clifford. In addition to the tower house, the surrounding medieval garden earthworks and some of the quarry areas which provided stone for construction are also scheduled. Ashlar and rubblestone. Rectangular in plan, an L-shaped addition to the south-east corner. Main house: 3 storeys, 4 bays. Small chamfered four-centred arched doorway to left of bay 2 with tablet above bearing inscription "This Barden Tower was repayred by the Ladie Anne Clifforde Countesse Dowager of Pembrooke, Dorsett and Montgomery Baronesse Clifforde Westmorland and Vescie. Lady of the Honor of Skipton in Craven and High Sherriffesse by inheritance of Countie of Westmorland in the years 1658 and 1659 after it had layne ruinous ever since about 1589 when her mother then lay in itt and was greate with child with her till nowe that itt was repayred by the said Lady. Isa Chap 58 Ver 12 'Gods Home be praised.". Left-hand bay has a lancet. Bays 2 and 4 have chamfered openings of large 3-light windows with hoodmoulds and relieving arches. The bay between is flanked by remains of walls and has a large double-chamfered, four-centred arched opening. First floor: left bay has a chamfered 2-light mullioned window with four-centred arched heads to lights, hoodmould. Bays 2 and 4 have similar large 3-light windows. To bay 3 a large plain four-centred arched opening. Second floor: openings are ruinous and open at the top, except that to bay 3 which is of one light. Left return: external stack to right of chamfered 4-centred arched door. To left a squared chamfered opening, to right of stack a chamfered opening. Above 2 chamfered lancets above a 2-light chamfered mullioned window with four-centred arched lights, hoodmould. Similar window above of 3 lights. Right return: similar. Rear: ruinous with small rectangular openings. L-shaped addition: 3 storeys, bays. Left-hand bay set back, chamfered doorway, chamfered 2-light windows above, one over the other. Right-hand bay: blind. Band, parapet. Rear: large external stack. A late medieval tower house of Lord Clifford, 'the shepherd Lord'; of interest as a small fortification with domestic amenities.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 323684)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SE05075717

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; 48258

• Web site links
  • http://www.dales-castles.org.uk/barden.htm
    http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/barden/barden.php#castle
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/104/barden.htm
    http://www.boltonabbey.com/
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Yorkshire (Malvern) p18
    Ingham, Bernard, 2001, Bernard Ingham's Yorkshire Castles (Dalesman) p120-1
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p301-2
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p513
    Pevsner, N., 1959. The Buildings of England: Yorkshire, West Riding (London) p89
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p207
• Journal Articles
  • Wood, 1960, Country Life Vol128 p1482
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/yorkseng.html#yorks15]
• Other sources and unpublished works (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • 1990, Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group Report No 1285