The Gatehouse. The comprehensive listing of medieval fortifications and castles in England and Wales.
Home | Books | Links | Fortifications and Castles | Other Information | Help | Downloads | Author Information | Contact
Go to Previous Record Go to Next Record Back to List

Coniston Hall

In the civil parish of Coniston. In the historic county of Lancashire North of the Sands (Modern Authority of Cumbria, 1974 county of Cumbria).

This site has been described as a;
Tower House.
  Confidence: It is probable that this site was a medieval fortification or palace.   Masonry ruins/remnants remains.
Large, two storeyed, T-shaped building of late 16th century date, partially restored in 1815. The south east wing may be earlier than the remainder of the house. Part of the original house is used as a barn while the house itself is used as a farmhouse and sailing club. At the north west corner are the foundations of a building which has been interpreted as a possible pele tower. Earthworks north west of the house may represent the remains of two fishponds. (PastScape)
In the field northwest of the house is a rectangular marshy depression 15 metres x 4 metres bounded by a bank 4.5 metres to 6.5 metres wide with a maximum height of 0.9 metres. A few stones on the inner side of the bank suggests a revetment. This feature is evidently that referred to in Collingwood as the foundations of a rectangular building 'north of west wing' but the present state of the remains suggest a medieval fishpond. A vague depression immediately west may be the remains of a similar feature. The exact limits of the deer park could not be ascertained. The hollows within the area, referred to by Collingwood as fishponds are all natural depressions or the result of surface quarrying. Immediately south of the hall, surface irregularities and vague platforms possibly indicate the site of buildings associated with the hall. (PastScape–ref. Field Investigators Comments F1 EG 21-AUG-57)
Richard le Fleming acquired the Manor of Coniston in 1250 as a dowry on his marriage with Elizebeth de Urswick,and soon after established the first Coniston Hall. Richard’s son, John le Fleming, was shortly afterwards granted a hunting park or chase within the boundaries of the manor. The creation of the hunting park was to have a great effect on the development of the surrounding landscape. These farms expanded their holding until they abutted the park wall, while the pattern of intakes crept up the fellside, eventually enclosing the deer park within a patchwork of small fields. On the lower slopes to the north of the park the medieval town field expanded as the number of farmholdings increased and sought to maximise the amount of arable land. Around 1580 William Fleming began work on the present hall, although the le Flemings were to forsake Coniston Hall for a new residence in Rydal during the late-seventeenth century, with the hall being maintained as a hunting lodge until the park finally fell out of use around 1710. (Maxwell and Lund)
The south east wing is, probably incorrectly, also described as a tower in some sources.
This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 76807)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SD30449634

Air Photo from multimap logo

Air Photo and general mapping

1st edition OS Map from old maps logo

Mid to late 19th century maps

Modern Map from Ordnance Survey logo

Landscape form and features

Modern Map from streetmap logo

General location and route planning

Geograph British Isles geography.org.uk logo
occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 39927
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 3356 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.
The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English Heritage and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes. I do not receive any income from this site and I fund it myself.
The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.
Please help me to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting me if you see errors or if you can add information.
I do acknowledge the help I get with this site.
*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.

Go to Previous Record Go to Next Record Back to List
This record last updated on Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Home | Books | Links | Fortifications and Castles | Other Information | Help | Downloads | Author Information | Contact
¤¤¤¤¤