Darfield New Hall

Gatehouse Classification - Pele Tower

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

There are masonry footings remains

NameDarfield New Hall
Alternative NamesWombwell; Cranford Hall
Medieval CountyYorkshire West Riding
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityBarnsley
1974 AuthoritySouth Yorkshire
Civil ParishBarnsley

Moated courtyard site, now occupied by a late C18 house. The lower courses of the medieval perimeter wall run along the inner side of the southern moat arm, forming a revetment wall. The gateway lies near the centre of this length of wall, flanked by buttresses bearing the coats of arms of Bosvile and Cresacre. The medieval hall block lay opposite the entrance gate. It is now covered by C18 house, except at the western end, where part of the outer wall, a fireplace and chimney stack survive. The first floor of the medieval west range was formerly timber framed but this was rebuilt in brick in C17 or C18. At one time a stable, the building was remodelled in C19 and has recently been converted into a dwelling. It is possible that this range was once flanked to the north and south by angle towers. These, together with the moat and the perimeter wall, would have rendered the site defensible in case of need. The heraldry on the gateway suggests a construction date some time in the first half of C15. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Birch writes southerly example of a 'tower house' (presumably a pele tower) now demolished although two pictures of the tower do survive. The modern name is Cranford Hall but the site was called New Hall in C14 documents.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSE39490527
Latitude53.5426
Longitude-1.40554
Eastings439490
Northings405270
Length
Width
Dimensions Comment
Vault
Vault Comment
Orientation
Orientation Comment
Wall Thickness 1
Wall Thickness 2
Map
Holder
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Books

  • Hey, David, 2003, Medieval South Yorkshire(Landmark Publishing) p. 84
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Yorkshire(Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 36
  • Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses of England and WalesVol. 1 Northern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 333
  • Ryder, P.F., 1982 (paperback edn 1992), The Medieval Buildings of Yorkshire(Ash Grove Book) p. 108-22
  • Hunter, J., 1831, South Yorkshire. The History and Topography of the Deanery of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of YorkVol. 2 p. 109-14

Journals

  • Birch, J., Ryder, P.F. and Jones, S.R., 1982, 'New Hall, Darfield' Yorkshire Archaeological JournalVol. 54 p. 81-98
  • Birch, J., 1981, 'The castles and fortified houses of South Yorkshire' The Archaeological JournalVol. 137 p. 374-6
  • 1980, CBA Group 4 Yorkshire Archaeological Registerp. 5