Belford Westhall Tower

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Belford West Hall

In the civil parish of Belford.
In the historic county of Northumberland (Modern Authority of Northumberland, 1974 county of Northumberland).

In the survey of 1415, there is named a 'Castrum de Belfurth' belonging to 'Dom de Dacre' [Lord Darce], but probably used by Thomas Lylburn, which by 1509 was recommended for a garrison by 40 horsemen. Remains of a moat can be traced although it has been partly built upon and plough damaged. Human bones and a C15 spur were found when enlarging the mill pond, formerly part of the moat, in C19. The 1715 survey records it a "formerly possessed by ye Armorers, now to Sr Robert Shafto."

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

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NU10293398

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; 7690

County Sites and Monuments Record number; N5114

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/75/belfordcastle.htm
    http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N5114
• Books
  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Keepdate Publishing) p62-3
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern) p23
    Jackson, M.J.,1992, Castles of Northumbria (Carlise)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p327
    Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p55, 57
    Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p61
    Sanders, I.J., 1960, English Baronies. A study of their origin and descent 1086-1327 p100-1
    Bateson, Edward (ed), 1893, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol1 p363-4
    Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p15, 23
    Tomlinson, W.W. 1888. Comprehensive Guide to Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p444-5
    Hodgson, J., 1820, A History of Northumberland pt3 Vol1 (Newcastle-upon-Tyne; John Hodgson) p27
• Journal Articles
  • Bond, C.J. (ed.), 1979. Moated Site Research Group Vol6 p49
    Hodgson, J.C., 1916, 'List of Ruined Towers, Chapels, etc., in Northumberland; compiled about 1715 by John Warburton, Somerset Herald, aided by John Horsley' Archaeologia Aeliana [ser3] Vol13 p5
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • 1509 Survey of Tevedale [Click here]
    1415 list of Northumberland Castles [Click here]