Snabdaugh Bastle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Snabdough; Chirdon; Snabdurgh

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

Site of what is believed to be a unique (to England) fortified house of about 1600, the Herons constructed a large fortified farmhouse, since they needed something larger than a bastle, though not so grand as a tower. The house was rediscovered when electrical work was being carried out and a stone vault discovered above the first floor ceiling, and sprang from the ground floor. The original structure is described as a stone tent, the vault allowing the structure to take a foot wide step inwards at first floor level, above which the curve of the vault becomes more obvious. The flooring at first floor level was supported on corbels. Long writes ‘There are late C14 remains of a vaulted basement incorporated in the house of Snabdough’.

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

This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 239681)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY78688464

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; 15831

County Sites and Monuments Record number; N7041

Web site links
- http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N7041
Books
- Ryder, Peter, 2004, 'Towers and bastles in Northumberland National Park' in Frodsham, P., Archaeology in Northumberland National Park (CBA Research report 136) p262-271
  Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Keepdate Publishing) p304-5
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p356, 357
  Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p118
  MacLauchlan, H., 1867. Notes not included in the memoirs already published on Roman roads in Northumberland (London) p78.

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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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