Glasson Barracks, Bowness

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Barracks House

In the civil parish of Bowness.
In the historic county of Cumberland (Modern Authority of Cumbria, 1974 county of Cumbria).

Early or mid-C16 fortified house with C18 and C20 alterations. It is of two storeys and three bays. The walls are am thick and are built of sandstone from Hadrian's Wall. C20 tile roof with coped gables and kneelers, gables raised in height incorporating 1760s datestone with initials T.M.; C20 brick chimney stack. 2 storeys, 3 bays. C20 door in C18 opening. Original slit vents at 2 levels now blocked; water outlet at first floor level to left of entrance. C20 windows in C20 openings. End wall left, has original blocked attic window. Rear wall had C16 ground floor entrance with drawbar tunnel, now enlarged and the lintel used as a mantelpiece inside. Blocked C18 entrance and windows. C20 windows in C20 openings. Interior has remains of stone spiral staircase in the thickness of the wall left. Although much altered this is an extremely rare building in this area. Identified as a bastle with loopholed walls.

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

This site is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 71909)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY25316055

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; 1096681

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 4688

Books

Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern) p97 [slight]
Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (CWAAS) p59

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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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