Tower Tye

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Tortie

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

Earthwork remains of a C14 Medieval ringwork; a circular earthwork having well defined defences which consist of an inner bank, a ditch, and an outer bank. The inner bank running around the edge of the interior measures approximately 6m wide by 1m high. It is flanked by a ditch c 2.5m by 0.5m deep which in turn is flanked by an outer bank measuring up to 5m wide by 0.5m high. (PastScape)
There is on the summit of a hill within the park (Naworth), a 14thc circular ring fort with double ramparts, c 40 yards diameter, known as Tower Tye or Tortie (Curwin; Collingwood). An earthwork occupying a very commanding position but of rather weak proportions. It is circular and comprises rampart, ditch and counterscarp bank, the latter eroded away in places. Within the rampart is a slight inner, perhaps quarry ditch. There is no evidence of an entrance. Nowhere does the rampart exceed 1.2m above the ditch bottom, or 0.5m above the interior; the ditch itself is 0.5m deep. The interior is bracken covered and so far as on can judge, featureless. Curwens assessment of the work as medieval is unlikely although the lack of specific dateable characteristics makes a firm alternative impossible (Field Investigators Comments–F1 CFW 09-FEB-72). NY 56506206 Tower Tye ringwork. This monument includes a circular earthwork having well defined defences which consist of an inner bank, a ditch, and an outer bank. The ringwork's flat interior measures approximately 40m in diameter and would originally have contained buildings. The inner bank running around the edge of the interior measures approximately 6m wide by 1m high. It is flanked by a ditch c2.5m wide by 0.5m deep which in turn is flanked by an outer bank measuring up to 5m wide by 0.5m high; scheduled (English Heritage SAM Amendment 12.10.95). (PastScape)
This site is in a natural defensive position, by a crossroads and close to river crossing at Lanercost. I find C14 date in the PastScape a very odd and I am quite at a loss as to why what would be a fairly major earthwork castle has been completely missed by King, Salter and Jackson. May be precussor to Naworth Castle. However an outer bank is not a feature of ringwork castles and I am dubious of this as a castle ringwork. I suspect it is a well preserved Iron Age small hill fort or large defended farmstead, possible with some later medieval reuse as a dwelling of low status. I suspect the usually authorities have not ever considered this as anything other than Iron Age.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY56506206

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles 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 12671
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 307 '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.

• Books
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (CWAAS)
    Curwen, J.F., 1913, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (Kendal) p213
• Journal Articles
  • Collingwood, W.G., 1923, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol23 p247-8