Townhead

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Newbiggin

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

Byre with store above, formerly bastle house. Probably mid C16, with initials T.D. (not T.C. as in Ramm et al, but thought to be initials of Thomas, Lord Dacre, died 1566) and date MDXX (not contemporary with building) on lintel. Thick walls of red sandstone random rubble, with large quoins, raised in height at 2 different periods; high pitched graduated Welsh slate roof. 2 storeys, 2 bays. Ground floor entrance has been slightly enlarged but retains its shouldered lintel and drawbar tunnel; flanking later windows. Upper floor entrance has chamfered surround and inscribed lintel; 2 light stone-mullioned window to left and small single-light window to right with chamfered surround, have both been filled. Small chamfered surround window on two levels in end wall right have both been filled. Large projecting buttress chimney stack to left end wall. Rear wall has similar small filled window, with large C19 entrance and plank doors, reached by ramp. Interior has fireplace with segmental stone arch, with later fireplace on opposite end wall.

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 2* listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 73439)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY56274907

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; 12345

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 730

Books

Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern) p103 [slight]
Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (CWAAS)
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p96
Ramm, H.G., McDowall, R.W. and Mercer, E., 1970, Shielings and Bastles (London) p74, no.1
Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1967, Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland (Harmondsworth) 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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