Wraysholme Pele Tower in Allithwaite, United Kingdom (Google Maps)

The Harringtons, a family of major social importance, acquired land in North Lancashire in the late 13 century. Although their main seat was at Gleaston Castle, they probably used Wraysholme as a resting place after crossing the tidal Morecambe Bay sands route. Their male line of heirs ended with Lord William Harrington in 1457, leaving a daughter who married the Marquess of Dorset. Lord William Harrington was at Agincourt with ten men, as were other members of his family.

Wraysholme next appears in the hands of Thomas Stanley from Leyland, through his support of King Henry VII. He leased it to Hugh Diccinson in the late 16 century. This is corroborated by a pew in Hugh's name in 1568 in Cartmel Priory. The last mention of a Dickinson at Wraysholme is the burial in 1714 of Francis Dickinson at Cartmel Priory. At this time, this gentry's residence of the tower became just part of the farm.

Coordinates are on the lane, where you can pull off the road, to look at the tower across the field. Look south east. The farm access lane is N 054 10.289 W 002 56.791

The defensive sites in Cumbria are numerous, consisting of pele towers, tower houses, fortified halls, fortified houses and a wide range of bastles, castles and fortified villages. Some of these sites are easily identifiable as defensive structures, for example, the towers at Arnside, Wraysholme, Hazelslack and Burneside to mention but a few. Others are harder to identify as they’ve been changed so much over the years, or have been included in working farms. Wraysholme Tower is a pele tower incorporated into a more modern farm.

The tower is 40 by 28 feet and three storeys high. The ground floor has 4 feet thick walls, and one small door, still big enough to let the animals in, when raiders came. A staircase in the wall leads to the first floor, the main living area. Above that is the top floor leading to the roof, where a turret was used primarily as a beacon. Originally on this site may have been a simple hall, which was rebuilt after the invasion force of Lambert Simnel landed at Piel Island in 1487.

The Harringtons, a family of major social importance, acquired land in North Lancashire in the late 13 century. Although their main seat was at Gleaston Castle, they probably used Wraysholme as a resting place after crossing the tidal Morecambe Bay sands route. Their male line of heirs ended with Lord William Harrington in 1457, leaving a daughter who married the Marquess of Dorset. Lord William Harrington was at Agincourt with ten men, as were other members of his family.

Wraysholme next appears in the hands of Thomas Stanley from Leyland, through his support of King Henry VII. He leased it to Hugh Diccinson in the late 16 century. This is corroborated by a pew in Hugh's name in 1568 in Cartmel Priory. The last mention of a Dickinson at Wraysholme is the burial in 1714 of Francis Dickinson at Cartmel Priory. At this time, this gentry's residence of the tower became just part of the farm.

Coordinates are on the lane, where you can pull off the road, to look at the tower across the field. Look south east. The farm access lane is N 054 10.289 W 002 56.791

Buildings - Castles
Links: www.visitcumbria.com
By: kuressaare

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