Bastlefacts

Low Coniscliffe Tower

Gatehouse Classification - Tower House

Has been described as a Possible Solar tower (peel-tower)

There are earthwork remains

Name	Low Coniscliffe Tower
Alternative Names
Medieval County	County Palatinate of Durham
Historic Country	Durham
Modern Authority	Darlington
1974 Authority	County Durham
Civil Parish	Low Coniscliffe And Merrybent

It is recorded that in the late 13th century Bishop Bek ordered that a tower should be built at Conisfliffe. It may have been on the site of the manor house. (Keys to the Past ref. Surtees Vol. 1 p. 35)

Gatehouse Comments

If Bishop Beck was intending this to be a residence for himself then this would be a tower house in the terms used in Gatehouse. However if this was intended to be a stewards house, dressed up with the symbolism of the prince bishops lord to counter the Lords of Graystoke, then this would be a pele tower. The later seems more likely.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Not listed listed building protected by law

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

23899

County Historic Environment Record

www.cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment/countryside/historic-environment/HER.asp

OS Map Grid Reference	NZ24721377
Latitude	54.51863
Longitude	-1.61962
Eastings	424720
Northings	513770

Length
Width
Dimensions Comment
Vault
Vault Comment
Orientation
Orientation Comment
Wall Thickness 1
Wall Thickness 2
Map
Holder